Who knew that the United Nations Climate Change Conference would turn so competitive so quickly? Though Joe Biden vowed to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 in a speech Monday, that pledge made fewer waves around the world than the promise made by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As detailed in a five-prong solution to combat climate change, Modi announced that India intends to reach net-zero by 2070. This is the first time India has made a carbon neutrality pledge, though COP26 generally hopes countries reach net-zero by 2050. The U.S. and E.U. have already vowed to do so, while China says it will reach net-zero by 2060. India is the world’s third-largest carbon emitter, while China and the U.S. round out the top two spots. Biden’s COP26 speech zeroed in on methane in particular because, as the president said, methane remains “one of the most potent greenhouse gases.” “More than 70 countries have already signed up to support the rapid reduction of methane pollution, and I encourage every nation to sign on,” Biden said. “It’s the single most effective strategy we have to slow global warming in the near term.” Read more