Biden calls out Xi and Putin for skipping climate summit despite China and Russia being among world’s biggest polluters

Biden calls out Xi and Putin for skipping climate summit despite China and Russia being among world’s biggest polluters

President Joe Biden on Tuesday criticized Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for skipping the United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow as well as the recent Group of 20 (G20) summit in Rome, questioning their commitment to fight climate change as other world leaders have sought consensus. Biden at the Glasgow summit, known as COP26, went after China and Russia for what he said was lack of action on some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Though Biden appeared in person, both Xi and Putin were physically absent from the summit. Xi submitted a written statement for COP26, while Putin appeared in a pre-recorded video. "By showing up, we've had a profound impact on the way I think the rest of the world is looking at the US and its leadership role. I think it's been a big mistake, quite frankly, for China not showing up," the president said emphatically. "The rest of the world is going to look to China and ask what value added are they providing. They've lost an ability to influence around the world and all the people here at COP, the same way I would argue with regard to Russia,"