US President Joe Biden has invited King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia to participate in a climate summit next month among 40 world leaders, including Presidents Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China.
The summit will begin on Earth Day, April 22. Like all of Mr. Biden’s international meetings so far, it will be held virtually, and a White House announcement said it would be “live streamed for public viewing.”
The summit is part of an effort to get the United States and its partners back on track after Mr. Biden re-entered the Paris agreement, the global pact intended to avert catastrophic global warming.
The other goals include spurring transformational technologies that can help reduce emissions and adapt communities to climate change; showcasing subnational and non-state actors that are committed to green recovery and an equitable vision for limiting warming to 1.5°C.
King Salman and President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE were the only Arab leaders on the list of invitees released by the White House.
The UAE was one of the first countries contacted by John Kerry, the US special envoy for climate. Just 10 days after coming into office, Mr Kerry held talks with Emirati minister and special climate envoy Dr Sultan Al Jaber on joint efforts to deliver global action on key environmental issues.
After assuming office, Biden talked by phone with King Salman of Saudi Arabia as he seeks to put relations with America's old ally on a new footing.
Mr Biden and King Salman also discussed "the longstanding partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia", and the threat posed to Saudi Arabia by pro-Iranian groups.
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