2 days ago
7
The United States President Joe Biden made history Sunday by becoming the first sitting US leader to visit the Amazon rainforest. Biden, in Brazil to attend the G20 summit, used the moment to declare that there's no going back in America's "
clean energy revolution
" and highlight the urgent need for climate action despite incoming political headwinds from President-elect Donald Trump. He also faced ridicule from Russian state-controlled media outlet RT on social media appearing to show Biden abruptly walking into the forest after his speech, rather than taking the designated path.
Standing amid towering ferns and against the backdrop of deforested land, Biden reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting climate change. "Nobody can reverse the clean energy revolution," he declared. "The question now is which government will stand in the way and which will seize the enormous opportunity."
The Amazon rainforest, often called the "lungs of the Earth," plays a critical role in mitigating climate change by storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. However, the region faces major environmental challenges, with deforestation and drying rivers threatening its ecosystem.
Biden’s comments also pointed out the uncertainty of America’s climate leadership under the incoming Trump administration. Trump has vowed to ramp up fossil fuel production, withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, and roll back key climate initiatives, calling global warming a "hoax."
Russian media mocks Biden
Amid his visit, Russian-state controlled media RT mocked the outgoing president, the network shared a video on X, captioned "Biden finishes press conference, answers no questions, wanders off into the Amazon Jungle," the post implied the 81-year-old president was disoriented.
Earlier in the day, an another tweet by RT, sharing a graphic that featured a smiling Biden alongside a headline about his administration's climate policies. The caption read, "Joe Biden planning his final vacation as US president be like," mocking his legacy as his term nears its end.
In the tweet, US President had given Ukraine tacit approval to use American missiles against Russian military targets, a sensitive topic amid the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
Biden's legacy and the road ahead
As Biden wraps up his presidency, his trip to the Amazon highlights the tension between his administration's ambitious climate goals and the challenges posed by his successor's opposing agenda. While Biden has spearheaded historic investments in clean energy and climate action, his achievements face the prospect of being unraveled under Trump’s leadership.
Biden’s visit to Brazil coincides with the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan, while Brazil prepares to host the event next year. These gatherings are pivotal as world leaders continue negotiating global solutions to the climate crisis.
"Some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution," Biden said. "But its benefits are already being enjoyed by people across the country, regardless of party or politics."
