Biden vows to beat COVID, tackle climate change in debut speech to UN General Assembly
Dave Goldiner
President Biden passionately called on world leaders to work together to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, address the challenges of climate change and human rights abuses in his first address as president to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
Seeking to usher in a new era of U.S. leadership, Biden vowed to respect allies and partners as America shows the way to defeat the ever more difficult shared problems facing the entire globe. He decried military conflict and insisted the U.S. is not seeking “a new Cold War” with China.
“We’re opening a new era of relentless diplomacy, of using the power of our development aid to invest in new ways of lifting people up around the world,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan, New York on Sept. 21, 2021.
President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan, New York on Sept. 21, 2021. (EDUARDO MUNOZ/)
The president offered an impassioned plea for cooperation, to friends and adversaries, arguing that overcoming a daunting list of crises “will hinge on our ability to recognize our common humanity.”
Biden said the U.S., under his watch, had reached a turning point with the end of military operations in Afghanistan last month, closing out America’s longest war. That set the table, he said, for his administration to shift its attention to intensive diplomacy at a moment with no shortage of crises facing the globe.
“Bombs and bullets cannot defend against COVID-19, or its future variants,” he added. “To fight this pandemic, we need a collective act of science and political will.”
President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in Manhattan, New York on September 21, 2021.
President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in Manhattan, New York on September 21, 2021. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/)
The president also called climate change an existential challenge for a world already facing a “code red” increase in temperatures worldwide and pledged to double U.S. financial aid to poorer countries to help switch to cleaner energy.
Putting their money where their mouth is, the Biden administration plans to increase economic assistance to about $11.4 billion a year — after five months ago doubling the amount to $5.7 billion a year. The 2024 goal is to reach the $11.4 billion mark.
“We will lead on all the greatest challenges of our time from COVID to climate,” he said. “But we will not lead alone. We will go together.”
President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 21, 2021 in New York.
President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 21, 2021 in New York. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/)
Biden also called for diplomacy to solve rifts with rivals like Iran and North Korea while warning that the U.S. would continue to flex its military muscle when needed.
He repeated America’s “unshakeable” support for Israel, but insisted that the U.S. remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians.
Boosting human rights, he name-checked China’s oppression of Uyghur minority and Ethiopia’s crackdown in its northern region of Tigray as intolerable violations of global norms.
President Joe Biden (R) greets New York City's Mayor Bill de Balsio (2nd R), his wife Chirlane McCray (C) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (L) upon arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on September 20.
President Joe Biden (R) greets New York City's Mayor Bill de Balsio (2nd R), his wife Chirlane McCray (C) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (L) upon arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on September 20. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/)
Biden sought to play down concerns about China tensions escalating into something more, saying: “We are not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs.” Notably, Biden didn’t utter the word “China” in his 34-minute address.
“We will choose to build a better future. We, you and I, we have the will and capacity to make it better. Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot afford to waste any more time,” he said. “We can do this.”
President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in New York.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in New York.
Pedro Castillo, President of Peru, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Isatou Touray, Vice President of Gambia, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Riek Machar, Vice President of South Sudan, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Guy Parmelin, President of Switzerland, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil, right, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, right, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Luis Lacalle Pou, President of Uruguay, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, arrives at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
President Joe Biden meets with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Intercontinental Barclay Hotel during the United Nations General Assembly, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
President Joe Biden looks toward Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right of the President, and others, as he meets with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Intercontinental Barclay Hotel during the UN General Assembly, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
President Joe Biden speaks with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray, second left, as he arrives at John F. Kennedy Airport for a two-day visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to reporters after meeting with Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at United Nations headquarters on Sept. 20, 2021, during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, speaks to reporters after a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York. The British prime minister is one of more than 100 heads of state or government to attend the session in person, although the size of delegations is smaller due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the South Korean boy band BTS wear face masks before they take turns speaking at the SDG Moment event as part of the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at United Nations Headquarters on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, from left, V, Suga, Jin, RM, Jung Kook, Jimin and J-Hope appear at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
Jimin listens as JHope of the South Korean boy band BTS speaks at the SDG Moment event as part of the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at United Nations Headquarters on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
Members of the South Korean band BTS arrive at United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York. U.S. President Joe Biden will speak at the U.N. later today.
A police traffic officer gestures as traffic is restricted due to the high-level 76th session of the UN General Assembly taking place on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in speaks at the SDG Moment event as part of the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate in UN General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York. More than 100 heads of state or government are attending the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in person, although the size of delegations are smaller due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
President of the Economic and Social Council Collen Vixen Kelapile speaks at the SDG Moment event as part of the UN General Assembly 76th General Debate at United Nations Headquarters on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
Empty desks fill the UN General Assembly Hall as speakers deliver remarks remotely at the SDG Moment event as part of the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in New York City. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a blueprint for fighting poverty and hunger as well as confronting the climate crisis.
Security guards walk outside the UN headquarters during the high-level 76th session of the UN General Assembly taking place on on Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.
Biden met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in New York following his speech, before heading back to the White House for a busy week of diplomacy in virtual and Washington settings.
The president’s advisers were still arranging for Biden to hold a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said Sunday that Macron, who was among many world leaders who did not attend the UNGA in person, is expected to speak to Biden in the coming days.
