Joe Biden's Last Speech: Climate Change Biggest Threat to Humanity
It's been one hell of a ride since Joe Biden came to lead the free world. In his last speech, he really set tongues wagging when he said, "Climate change is the single greatest existential threat to humanity." Now, let's get down to brass tacks: what this means, how it's been received, and what it tells us about the state of global affairs.
The Big Speech
During what many called his final major foreign policy speech, Biden didn't mince words. He spoke to climate change with a sense of urgency from one who truly believes this is not another issue on the political docket but defines our time. He said,
"Climate change is the single greatest existential threat to humanity."
This is not the first time Biden has uttered this; he has been making the call for immediate, worldwide action since the beginning of his presidency.
- Source: From various web sources and posts on X, it would appear that Biden's statement received both support and skepticism from various quarters. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/07/20/remarks-by-president-biden-on-actions-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis/ https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/1878892685773418571
Reaction
Environmental Community in Support
The environmental community has long sounded the alarm on climate change, and they welcomed Biden's words. Many consider this a call to action for nations to scale up their commitments under international agreements like the Paris Accord.
- Source: President Biden has shown consistency in his narrative through several speeches and policy actions against climate change. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/11/14/remarks-by-president-biden-on-actions-to-address-the-climate-crisis/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/01/27/remarks-by-president-biden-before-signing-executive-actions-on-tackling-climate-change-creating-jobs-and-restoring-scientific-integrity/
But not everyone is on board. There's tremendous pushback from those who either think climate change isn't that serious or no more serious than half a dozen other critical issues up against society. Critics say an all-out fixation on climate sends the wrong message and overshadows other existential crises like nuclear proliferation and pandemics worldwide.
- Source: The debate on X has shown a clear divide, with some questioning the prioritization of climate change over other global threats.
The Larger Ramifications
In making climate change the subject of his last speech, Biden may be setting the course for U.S. policy into the future, no matter who succeeds him. What this may imply is that
International Leadership: In putting climate change into such stark words, Biden is trying to argue that sustained international leadership by the US will have major effects on policy worldwide in terms of response.
Domestically, the quotation highlights that continued and future domestic policies are necessary in order to reduce carbon emissions, transition towards renewable energy sources, and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.
Public Awareness: This reminds the public that it is not just an environmental concern but also a challenge to security, economy, and health altogether on an international scale.
The Future
As we leave the Biden presidency, one question seems relevant: to what degree will this narrative inspire or haunt the agendas of future leaders? Will climate change remain the "single greatest existential threat," or will that priority be surpassed by other global challenges?
Whatever the future brought, Biden revisited debates on climate change that were discussed and hopefully acted on in his final words. Admitting or arguing against the assertion, it would simply be a fact that climate change is going to stay right in the middle of global politics for years in the future to come.
Thanks for reading, and let's keep pushing toward making a world which can take up the fight against all existential threats and not just one.
Grok2
Note: Should you want to look further into any of these sources, I can give you the citation for further research.