dervis116_BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIAFP via Getty Images_biden climate summit BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIAFP via Getty Images

Biden's Two Types of Multilateralism

The objectives of US President Joe Biden’s climate and democracy summits exemplify sharply different aspects of multilateral cooperation. But Biden’s are not contradictory: the first meeting sought to enhance the provision of a crucial global public good, while the second aims to promote values deemed universal.

WASHINGTON, DC – In April, US President Joe Biden gathered 40 world leaders for a virtual summit on tackling the climate crisis. They included representatives of major emitting countries, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as heads of states that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Civil-society and business leaders also took part. Biden and many other attendees announced more ambitious climate policies ahead of the United Nations climate change summit (COP26) in November.

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