The administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told the United Nations’ COP27 climate summit that the conference opens with a backdrop of extreme weather and climate events that remind participants of why the work is crucial.
NOAA’s Rick Spinrad made the remarks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 6, according to a Nov. 7 news release.
“As a part of the United States delegation, I can say that we’re headed to COP27 with notable achievements to meet the need for attaining our 1.5 degrees C-aligned target,” he said, according to the release.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in August, represents the largest and most comprehensive climate legislation in U.S. history, Spinrad said. The IRA funding positions the United States to reduce emissions in 2030 by 50-52% compared to 2005 levels, meeting President Biden’s goal, the release reported. That will solidify a commitment by the U.S. to future climate action.
NOAA invests in measures that enable climate adaptation and resilience by local communities, he said, the release reported.
“We are providing targeted technical assistance and supporting international climate research to further improve our capacity to protect lives, lifestyles and livelihoods,” Spinrad said, according to the release.
