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Connect the World
New U.S. Plan To Cut Carbon Emissions By Up To 52 Percent By 2030; CNN Speaks To President Of COP 26 Summit; What's Our Climate Record Like, Historically Not Great; Saudi Arabia, UAE Boost Support For Clean Energy; Film Exposes Relationship Between A Man And An Octopus; France's Vineyards Hit By Destructive Cold Snap. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired April 22, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Tonight we are connecting you to a world of crises starting with the most important one that impacts us
all every single day Have a look at this rare sight.
Leaders of dozens of countries friends and sometimes foes coming together to fight that urgent crisis climate change they are attending a two day
virtual conference which is hosted by Joe Biden and the White House and need we remind you it is beginning on Earth Day.
One by one leader is outlining steps their countries can take starting with the United States announcing a plan to half emissions by the end of the
decade. President Joe Biden says this can lead to many more jobs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I like to build. I want to build an in a critical infrastructure to produce and deploy clean
technology. Both those we can harness today and those that will invent tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Biden, using 2005 as a baseline for that reduction at a time when U.S. emissions were peaking. It's worthwhile noting that the U.S.
is the world's second highest producer of carbon dioxide emissions after China. Well, the Head of the United Nations says there is no time to waste.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: We need a green planet but the world is on red alert. We are at the verge of the abyss. We must make sure
the next step is in the right direction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, today is virtual summit and important stepping stone to what is the crucial COP 26 Summit scheduled for this November in Scotland.
COP 26 President, British MP, Alok Sharma says plans are in progress to hold this year's summit. It was supposed to happen last year but was
postponed because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
And Alok Sharma joins me now live from London. And as we see the gathering of some 40 world leaders and the gathering amongst those of both the
Chinese and the Russian leaders, how would you describe the state of our climate in the world today?
ALOK SHARMA, PRESIDENT, U.N. CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 26: Well, Becky, we're in a different place to we were about a year ago. And as you just
said, we had to postpone COP 26 is now taking place in Glasgow in November this year.
In the U.S., of course, we were very many months away from a presidential election. And you know it wasn't clear how that was going to go. And we had
COVID to face with globally. But despite that, during last year, there was progress that was made and the UK hosted a summit, marking the five year
anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
We did that together with France and the UN. And at that juncture, in December last year, we had 75 world leaders come forward with climate
ambition targets. And that, of course, was very good news. And one of the things that the UK did at the time was set out his own 2030 emissions
reductions target of at least 68 percent.
And we followed that out the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and follow that up with a target of 78 percent reductions in our emissions by 2035. And, of
course, in the U.S., you've had a change of administration. I'm absolutely delighted that we now have Joe Biden leading this from the front together
with John Kerry and others and really being in the front line on the fight against climate change.
I very much welcome what we've heard today. I think the national determined contribution set out by the President, I think is a big step up. And I
think it it's a benchmark it's for others as well, the big emitters to have a look at and see what more they can do.
The reality is Becky that we've made progress in the last year we've now got 70 percent of the world economy covered by next year target, but we
need to do a lot, lot more in terms of near term emission reduction targets and that's what I'm looking for between now and COP 26.
ANDERSON: Yes, let's drill down a little bit here. Let's start with Joe Biden today who called committing to climate save future and absolute moral
imperative. And let's start with what he pledged.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: He said the U.S. will commit to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by over half by the end of the decade. Now, some Republicans in
the U.S. will say his plan will raise energy costs, and it will kill American jobs.
And it will allow Russia, China and other countries to increase greenhouse gas emissions, while progressives will likely say Joe Biden is still not
doing enough. The bigger question, Mr. Sharma, is the U.S. target that's been set today? Is it realistic and if so, how? How to implement?
SHARMA: Yes, I think I mean this is an issue that faces all of us all economies that are coming forward with the ambitious emissions reductions
targets, including, of course, the UK. Now, the good news, what we've heard today, of course, from the U.S. from Japan, and Canada means that all the
G7 countries have a NDC that is aligned to net zero. That's really good news.
In terms of how you need to deliver this look, I mean, from a UK perspective, Becky, we have shown that you can have green growth. So over
the last 30 years, we've managed to grow our economy by 75 percent and we've cut emissions by 43 percent. So this is actually possible.
And what you heard from leaders today, Joe Biden, Prime Minister Johnson and others is that technology is going to be part of the solution here, one
of the big parts of the solution. And if you look at what has happened in terms of the price of renewable energy in over the last 10 years, you've
seen the price of solar fall by around 80 percent offshore wind has come down significantly as well.
And that is what is driving the incredible growth in renewables across the world. I am confident that we will get there. But of course, it's important
that countries set out their plans in detail. And that's, of course, what we also want to see.
ANDERSON: And we haven't seen the detail of, for example, China's plan. China's President Xi Jinping making the world's single largest climate
commitment today by stating that China would become climate neutral by 2060. He reinforced that pledge today.
And let's be quite clear, the Chinese have stolen a march on other countries, including on the U.S. when it comes to, for example, renewables
they make most of the solar panels around the world. But do you believe China is on track for its carbon neutral goal?
SHARMA: Well, I think it's good that President Xi Jinping has reiterated the target of carbon neutrality before 2016. I think, frankly, we wanted to
see what the further detail is, as I understand the Chinese government will be holding some press conference over the next hour or so. So let's see
what further comes out.
But I think this is an issue for China. It's an issue for indeed all countries to come forward and explain how having set targets for the middle
of the century how we're actually going to get there? If I may add one other point here which is absolutely vital what's really good about this
summit is that it has included a both developed countries, but also developing countries.
And one of the big messages that have come out from developing countries is the need for finance. And I can tell you in my role as COP President, I
have been championing the case for developing countries in terms of donor countries stepping forward and delivering on the $100 billion target in
climate finance that was pledged previously.
That is a totemic issue for developing countries, and it is actually incumbent on donor countries to come forward. And that is going to be
absolutely critical. So I also want to hear what more is going to come up in the rest of this summit when it comes to finance commitments from donor
countries?
ANDERSON: Yes, from donor countries and about leveraging private sector money, of course, and let's talk about that momentarily. But I do want to
talk about the UK because as Host of COP 26, it is no surprise the UK wants to be seen as a climate leader. Boris Johnson today announcing that the
country will build back better from this pandemic, by building back greener and the country, as you rightly point out, announcing a target to reduce
emissions by 78 percent by 2035.
There has been some criticism from environmentalists and others that the UK does not have the policies to match its ambition. Now you have said you
look forward to for example, seeing the detail from China. So what do you say to those critics who say that the UK does not have policies that match
its ambition?
SHARMA: Well, Becky, if I tell you that the UK has de-carbonized its economy faster than any other G20 nation over the past 20 years that gives
you some measure of what we have been doing in the United Kingdom. And at the end of the last year, the Prime Minister set out a 10 point plan for a
Green Industrial Revolution.
I was part of putting this together. We've put out details in terms of how we're going to de-carbonize our energy mix, an energy white paper?
[11:10:00]
SHARMA: And what we've also said is that before COP 26, we will set out a plan on net zero strategy in terms of how we're going to get to net zero by
the middle of the century? But again, I want to reiterate that actually, the UK has been doing enormous amount.
So if we take our production of electricity, you know, 40 percent of our electricity generation came from coal in 2012. A year ago, it had dropped
to less than 2 percent. And we're going to phase it out completely by 2024.
We've grown our offshore wind sector. We have, as you heard from Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, the biggest offshore wind sector in the world. So
I you know, of course, there's always that we can do more in other countries can do more. But I do think that the UK has been the poster child
when it comes to delivering on green growth.
ANDERSON: Let me just challenge you or certainly will provide a challenge that was a recent challenge by Labor Lawmaker, Ed Miliband to you who said
that the sum total of the Chancellor's Green Stimulus promise just 12 billion pounds or about $15 billion of green spending over the next decade.
And over a million dollars of that he said has already been cut. That investment he says he's 60 times smaller than President Biden's green
infrastructure plan. And he said when it comes to a green stimulus the UK is telling others to act but not acting itself your response?
SHARMA: Yes, so my response is that, of course, we've always been clear that when it came to our 10 point plan, that was a down payment, 12 billion
pounds, but you talked about private finance. And of course, what we need to do is to unleash private finance, and allow that to flow into a green
infrastructure.
And, you know, we have said that in terms of our 10 point plan, we are looking to see three times as much money coming from the private sector.
The reason Becky, that we have managed to grow, the biggest offshore wind sector in the world, is because we created revenue mechanisms to allow the
private sector to invest.
That is what countries around the world will be looking to do as well. So you know I feel confident that the UK is on track, as I said, we will set
up further policies over the coming months.
ANDERSON: You've said that you have no desire to postpone this year's COP 26, which is scheduled for November; it was of course postponed last year.
What will this year's conference look like? Will it be in person? Will it have a virtual element to it? Because I know that there are countries that
say they want an equal seat at the table with every country, get an equal seat at the COP 26 table sir.
SHARMA: Yes, well Becky that is exactly the message that has been delivered to me by country after country or those who have visited those where I've
had virtual meetings with ministers.
And that's absolutely right and proper, that actually the big emitters should be sitting at the same table on a level playing field with smaller
countries so that we can have those negotiations as critical negotiations that have to be concluded, in Glasgow.
And yes, we are planning to have an in person event. And of course, what's vital as we plan for that is that we have the contingencies for a different
career scenarios, none of us can predict precisely where we'll be in six months from now.
But what we are doing is planning for an in person event, we are ensuring that paramount in our minds is the safety of the participants who come and
of course, the safety of the people of Glasgow. You made a very important point about any virtual elements to this, I've been very clear right from
the start are that what I want is the most inclusive COP ever.
And that's why we have already started doing some planning on what that would mean in terms of extending COP in a virtual manner to those people
who wouldn't normally come even if you know, we were in a non-COVID time. So we want to have this as inclusive as ever. And that's the basis on which
we're working.
ANDERSON: And you have a virtual seat at the White House Climate Summit as I understand it today, you are due to speak there, pretty much now. So we
will let you go. But sir, I do hope that you will join us again on "Connect the World" as we work our way through what is such an important year for
the climate. Alok Sharma, thank you for joining us.
SHARMA: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And join CNN for a Town Hall on Climate Policy top U.S. officials will answer questions on how President Joe Biden plans to remake U.S.
climate policy?
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ANDERSON: That's 6 o'clock Saturday, Abu Dhabi time 10 am in Hong Kong, and you will, I'm sure work out the times wherever you are watching locally.
And there is a plethora of climate content available for you to view on CNN digital platforms.
We break down all the aspects of the climate crisis and how we make a climate safe world going forward in ways that I hope you will agree make it
easy to understand. You can use it to teach your kids about the environment, get them involved, they are the future. That is
cnn.com/climate.
Well, you saw India near the top of the list of greenhouse gas emitters. Well, that country also currently stands atop another unfortunate list. It
is just recorded the highest daily increase in new Coronavirus cases of any country in the world ever since the pandemic began.
Nearly 315,000 cases today alone and that number is likely an understatement. India's hospitals are overwhelmed and they are
understaffed. They are running low on basic supplies like oxygen.
On Wednesday, tragedy struck a Hospital in the State of Maharashtra; at least 22 ventilator patients died waiting for oxygen that was lost in an
accident this NGO who is making oxygen concentrated machines available to some of the more stable patients, so that they can use them at home and
avoid coming into hospitals.
Well, I spoke last hour with the President of the Public Health Foundation of India, Dr. Srinath Reddy and I asked him why things are spiraling out of
control in terms of infections and in terms of daily deaths?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SRINATH REDDY, PRESIDENT, PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION OF INDIA: Well, I think the lesson is very clear. You cannot have a swift and strong surge
response if you do not have an efficient and equitable health system to begin with, in the non emergency situation.
India for long has neglected its health system with very little of public financing. And this is the price we are paying at the moment. But also, I
believe there was a sense of complacency by early January that the pandemic had absolutely subsided, that we were not going to see a second wave
because the numbers have really come down very low.
And there was a feeling that we could get back to full normal flow of life without any restrictions whatsoever. And that abandonment of caution led to
a major surge, of course, with some of the variants also coming in, in the State of Maharashtra as well as in Punjab, and now spreading elsewhere with
all of these combining together to create an extraordinarily serious situation.
ANDERSON: India's fragile healthcare system, as you have pointed out yourself is at breaking point. Hospitals are understaffed, they're
overflowing. We are hearing stories ourselves about people who can't get a test when they can get a test. They can't get an appointment with a doctor,
when they can't get an appointment with a doctor. They get 30 seconds of that doctor's time.
If they need oxygen, they can't get it because it's in dangerously short supply. Intensive care units are full. Ventilators are in use, the dead are
piling up. You have described this as grim. Just how much worse could things get if daily infections don't start to decline? And how concerned
are you that India could be the world's Petri dish and could cause havoc going forward?
DR. REDDY: Well, we'll have to hope that the situation will not arise that at least at this stage, they'll be concerted countrywide action to quickly
quell the pandemic. Of course, given the number of infections that we already have, and the people that might have already infected, I do not
expect the case count to go down before three or four weeks and the death count to go down until at least two to three weeks thereafter.
But at least if we can start taking resolute measures to reduce the transmission right at this point in time, we can set in motion the decline
of the pandemic. We did it last time but that was a different scenario. This is a much worse scenario and we do need a far quicker action and far
more effective action.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This was Srinath Reddy speaking to me earlier. Well, Indonesia's Navy chief says he is hopeful that 53 crew members aboard a missing sub
will be found alive but time is running out. This submarine seen here in file video vanishing early on Wednesday during a training exercise in the
Bali Strait as it was launching torpedoes.
Searches then later spotting an oil spill in the area of the sub believed to be 600 to 700 meters beneath the surface. Well, I want to connect you to
Blake Essig who is following developments for you from Tokyo, Blake?
[11:20:00]
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know Becky, as you said time is running out to bring all 53 of the people on board, the missing Indonesian
submarine back home alive. Now the sub has been missing since early Wednesday morning, and according to the Navy only has enough oxygen for the
crew to survive until Saturday around 3 am local time.
A search and rescue operation is currently underway. The sub went missing during a war simulation exercise in the Bali Strait, about 100 kilometers
off the Coast of Bali. Now during the training exercise a submarine was cleared to launch a torpedo, but gave no response.
Now several hours after contact was lost an oil spill was spotted from the air officials believe that the spill is the result of an oil tank leaking
because the submarine is too deep, or that the crew released all the fluid onboard the submarine to help it rise to the surface.
And Navy officials say this particular sub has a dive capability of 500 meters. But it's currently believed to be at a depth of about 700 meters.
Now if that's the case, it could be fatal not only for the submarine, but also all those on board. And one Military official has said let's pray for
them so they can survive.
Indonesia has deployed 21 warships, three submarines and five airplanes to search for the missing submarine. At least one of those ships is equipped
with sonar that can precisely detect the subs position. But again, Becky at this point, the search continues for all 53 people on board. The ship has
not been located and time is running out.
ANDERSON: Blake Essig is on the story. Thank you, Blake. Well, coming up bold plans to promote clean energy from the region better known for
producing oil the Middle East. Just ahead the Chief of the International Renewable Energy Agency which is based right here in Abu Dhabi tells me
it's going to take trillions, trillions of dollars to meet real climate change goals in just three decades. We're following the money with him.
From the seat of the air signs of climate change are all around as world leaders talking about this critical problem today. But will that talk lead
to action?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right, welcome back. You're watching "Connect the World" our top story for you this hour the White House's Climate Summit. Now look,
it's great to see world leaders getting together to work out solutions for our Earth. But this isn't our first rodeo. I've been reporting on this for
years.
So what's actually different this time around? Well, let me rewind to go forward. Take a look at this. This is April the 22nd 1970 51 years ago, the
first Earth Day the kids in this image would be what well into their 60s by now.
[11:25:00]
And what's happened to the world since? Well, CO2 emissions have rocketed by about 90 percent since then, data from America's Environmental
Protection Agency shows just look at this graph. As that line rises our chances of a better safer world fall and fall.
And yes, politicians are making the right noises at the White House today. That's great. But they've done that before, like the Paris Agreement in
2015, or the so called ICAP International Carbon Action Partnership before that, and the Kyoto Protocol in the 1992 Global Environment Facility, and
the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change catchy name, right?
It's not called COP 26 for no reason, it's because it is the 26th meeting. Well, I'll start with the conventions here. But I'll also add that we can't
shift the blame entirely. What causes most of that CO2? Well, it's you and me, all of us. We've all got a part to play in getting our climate crisis
under control.
Let's keep that in mind as we take everything in its going on today. CNN's Bill Weir has been reporting for us from the frontlines of the battle
against climate change. And he has been following today's summit. Bill joins us from New York.
Joe Biden, aiming to cement us credibility on climate and galvanizing world leaders at this summit that's a stark break from his predecessor he calls
this a moral imperative. The U.S. had lost some of its international credibility.
But what are we really achieving at this point because there are lots of promises being made? Bill, let's just nail these world leaders down, shall
we? What do we need to hear from them next?
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: I think what you need to see is actionable policy with real, verifiable measurements of where they are and
where they're headed? You're absolutely right. We have heard this song from this choir sheet many, many times in the past.
Joe Biden is now trying to renew his vows with science and moral obligation after a four year divorce. So there's healthy skepticism there. And it is
rather stunning in this age of foreign policy to see at least President Xi show up Bolsonaro of Brazil, Putin of Russia and hear them sort of make
concrete promises.
Putin says he's going to explore carbon pricing and one region of Russia. President Xi says their treasure depends as much on green mountains as they
are gold mountains, as it were. President Bolsonaro says he wants to end illegal deforestation by 2030. Because the Amazon is a huge carbon sink, as
we all know.
But their actions as you see, China just put more coal online than the rest of the world took offline last year. President Putin is chomping at the bit
to drill for oil up in the Arctic now that it's melted and navigate navigable. Bolsonaro, of course, is led so much damage happened to that
biome and Brazil. It's heartbreaking to see.
But I suppose the optimist, we have to sort of go into this with some sense of optimism, that before the U.S. could go to the moon, President Kennedy
had to say we're going to the moon within the decade and set that goal down in terms of the U.S. policy now it sort of hinges on this big $2 trillion
infrastructure plan, which has a lot of money in it for smarter, rebuilding more research and development.
ANDERSON: Sure.
WEIR: And but you're right, Becky, it's sort of the state motto of Missouri. Show me! Show me these promises.
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes. And it is the economic opportunity that John Kerry has been flogging as it were, as he has made his way around the world drumming
up support for this meeting, and indeed, efforts for COP 26 going forward.
So let's just talk about those economic opportunities. You will have drill down on much of what John Kerry and the IMF the World Bank has been - have
been discussing when it comes to jobs, gains, the cost benefit analysis of actually looking at a climate safe future, do the stats stack up as it
were?
WEIR: Well, it's hard to look at any real progress one for example, just at a time when every sort of ton of carbon we burn should probably going to
either a smarter replacement or basic survival until we get to a renewable future. Instead humanity comes up with something like Bitcoin, you know,
crypto currency that needs such amazing amounts of computing power.
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WEIR: It will use 100 times more energy than all of the solar panels around the world installed last year. And so it's you know, even one step forward
seems to be three steps back on some of these things. We have to come up with new but as you say, the economic possibilities for those who get in
front of this will be enormous.
Trillions will be lost if nothing is done. A new study from Swiss Re the reinsurance company says GDP globally will go down almost 20 percent if
nothing is done by the middle of this century, that's a staggering loss. But the amount of money it can make if you come up with a kind of concrete
that stores its own carbon, or a group of green hydrogen that can make steel.
You know, the U.S. is 25 years behind Europe when it comes to offshore wind. There is another boom waiting to happen and industrial revolution 2.0
and that's the carrot rather than the stick. I think that Envoy Kerry is trying to have--
ANDERSON: Digitalization, decentralization and de-carbonization innovation technology AI, I hear it all, it's going to be really interesting to see
what it provides for the future? Up next, I'll be talking to a man on a mission, the Head of the International Renewable Energy Agency has to twist
the arms of the world's most powerful to make sure they keep their climate change promises. We will find out how that is going after this?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: In the Middle East, particularly here in the Gulf countries are stepping up their support for climate change. Leaders from Saudi Arabia and
the UAE are participating in this virtual climate summit which is now underway at the White House and they are making ambitious pledges on clean
energy.
The UAE where we broadcast from which was the first Gulf country to ratify the Paris Agreement is focusing on low carbon urban design and new zero
carbon fuels like hydrogen. And here's what the Saudi King said about his plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD, SAUDI ARABIA: Enhancing the level of international cooperation is the optimal solution to meeting the challenges
of climate change. During our G20 Presidency last year, we advocated the need to adopt the notion of a circular carbon economy, launching two
international initiatives to curb land degradation and to protect coral reefs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, John Defterios is in Abu Dhabi with more on the region's new initiatives.
[11:35:00]
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Becky, the narrative is changing quickly here in the Middle East as the Biden Administration ups
the ante on the Paris Climate Agreement. This is a region that sits on better than half of the proven oil reserves and remains very dependent on
export revenues.
Saudi Arabia remains the world's number one oil exporter and recently led this drive to cut production to lift prices because of the COVID-19
pandemic. But now we're shifting to the medium term and unclear what oil demand will look like.
The International Energy Agency out of Paris was suggesting it could drop by a third by 2040. Arena, the Renewable Energy Agency based here in Abu
Dhabi says that hydrocarbon demand is to drop by 75 percent by 2050, to hit 1.5 degrees centigrade in terms of global warming by 2050, requiring $131
trillion of investment.
Here in the UAE, they want to be positioned as a low cost low carbon producer, and unclear about where oil demand will stand is boosting
capacity to 5 million barrels a day, but at the same time, investing heavily into solar technology and also hydrogen. We see the same in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well.
Here in the Gulf States, we see that they have a financial cushion to manage the energy transition. That's not the case. And other major Middle
East producers like Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Algeria. So this means Becky, it introduces political risk as we accelerate the energy transition over the
next 20 to 30 years.
ANDERSON: John Defterios reporting. Think clean energy, think renewables.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Trying, driving, drinking, thinking and everything in between. It takes an awful lot of energy to power our world.
FRANCESCO LA CAMERA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY: By certain that they would make the difference.
ANDERSON: That is Head of the UN's Renewable Energy Agency based in the futuristic setup of Mazda in Abu Dhabi. It's Francesco La Camera's job to
persuade world leaders to clean up their act, stick to their Paris Climate commitments to avert a disaster.
Last year was a watershed moment more than 80 percent of all electricity capacity added in 2020 was renewable. But there is a long way to go. La
Camera cautions the world needs to invest a massive $131 trillion in clean energy by 2050 to hit its climate goals.
LA CAMERA: We have to understand that in this exercise, fighting climate change, the most important variable is time. So the more we delay action,
the more difficult will be to get there, where we should be to be in line with containing the temperature, the rising temperature in 1.5.
So what is happening still now that the CO2 emissions are increasing in the last year's except the last one because of the pandemic. But a rebound, at
least in the short term is possible. So we need action now.
ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear and let's drill down here. Your 2021 report found renewable energy production needs to grow eight times faster than the
current rate in order to limit global warming and the cost in terms of investment is over $130 trillion by 2050.
Are you telling me that as we do this interview today in April of 2021, that the world is on track, to meet those investment targets that you have
set?
LA CAMERA: The world today is not - we argue that is going in the wrong direction. But there are clear signs like what's happening in the market
also in the national markets? And there are these encouraging commitments by U.S. the European Union but also from Japan, from South Korea from South
Africa also the call of the Chinese government for 2016 carbon neutral is encouraging.
So we are not in track. But we hope that this year could be decisive steps to change dramatically our way to 2050.
ANDERSON: President Biden has unveiled a green investment plan which he says will make America's power sector 100 percent renewable by 2035.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: The EU has launched a green recovery fund for member states to invest in clean energy resources. How important are these government
commitments?
LA CAMERA: They are absolutely encouraging and necessary. We're doing 4.4 trillions of U.S. dollar investment each year.
ANDERSON: John Kerry says he hopes that he can work with China on the climate crisis fall despite what is going on with regard the relationship,
the geopolitical relationship between Beijing and Washington. I just want you to give us a sense of where China stands within the context of a
climate safe future?
LA CAMERA: Paris Agreement was not possible without U.S. and China working together. You have also imagined that of the installed capacity last year
to under 60 gig watt hours were in China. So they are trying to do something.
ANDERSON: So while China is still the world's number one emitter of greenhouse gases, it has stolen a march is what you are telling me on other
countries around the world when it comes to investment in renewable energy. Correct?
LA CAMERA: In fact, they are - first they are the producer, the main producer of the panels.
ANDERSON: Solar Panels?
LA CAMERA: Yes. This will slow down with the time because - all country wants to adapt to so the industrial sector, but it's real.
ANDERSON: You talk a lot about investments in renewables. But a key aspect here will be divestment in fossil fuels. Correct?
LA CAMERA: Absolutely. Is without saying, we have not to fund any new - that's for as to say must be achieved, must be achieved. And the
decommissioning should be all--
ANDERSON: So let's be clear about this. It sounds to me as if you're saying you want to put an end to tax breaks, government investment, overseas aid
and subsidies that help fuel investment in coal fired power stations or other fossil fuels correct?
LA CAMERA: We have no other option. You are completely right. We have no other option. This has to happen now.
ANDERSON: The irony of you and I sitting here in Abu Dhabi, where which is the headquarters of IRENA, a country that was built on the revenues that
profits from fossil fuels will not be lost on our viewers. How do you assess the transition by these GCC countries those that have built their
economies on oil? How do you assess the energy transition and commitment to a climate safe future?
LA CAMERA: So this is a question to you. Could you imagine 10 years ago, to see the solar plant that is here producing energy with one cent point 344
kilowatt, you could imagine Arabia want to invest in building a factory for electric vehicles. They want to invest in wins; they make new agreement for
investing in green hydrogen. Could you imagine these 10 years ago?
So the leadership here is looking to the future. So also if they are the oil region, and oil and gas region, they are trying to build a future that
put them will be more resilient and without shocks when the oil market will be decreasing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Francesco La Camera at Mazda with me just earlier in the week. Well, coming up by an unlikely friendship, the Oscar nominated
documentary that explores the bond between a man and an octopus. My conversation with the film directors is just a head.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, the Academy Awards on Sunday and COVID restrictions will make this year's Oscars slightly different. It is not putting a damper on
the excitement for the films partly because of nominations like this one, "My octopus teacher", which is up for Best Documentary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people saying an octopus are like an alien. The strange thing is, as you get closer to them, he realized that he very
similar in a lot of ways.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that clip is from "My octopus teacher" a documentary telling the incredible tale of a man who formed a very unlikely bond with
an octopus. And as we focus on climate change today, the film shows us just how fragile the ocean and its inhabitants are, and how important it is for
us to preserve and protect it? Here's my conversation with the film's directors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIPPA EHRLICH, DIRECTOR, "MY OCTOPUS TEACHER": Firstly says this project was never really a project at the beginning. It was crazy just going into
the water every day and becoming fascinated by this beguiling little creature and recording everything that he saw. I've started diving probe
regularly and about six months into that process he looked at me one day and said, look, I think I'm going to make another film.
ANDERSON: I read that you had 3000 hours of material, I mean, to find a story within that is remarkable. James, you put him in front of the camera,
how did you do it?
JAMES REED, DIRECTOR, "MY OCTOPUS TEACHER": You know this is as much the octopus story as it is creates. And we kind of decided together the best
approach was to have, you know, he needed to tell the story but in person and sort of from the heart.
So we sat down and did the interviews for three days at his kitchen table. This was a profound year in his life. So we went slowly and we went in
detail.
ANDERSON: What impact do you think this film has already had? And is it what you hoped for?
REED: You know, I'm just amazed at the different things people sort of respond to in the film, you know, people who are completely glued to the
personal aspects of the octopus story, many of people who really relate to the predicament that Craig was in.
And then people who have a huge - it has huge impact on their attitude to the environment. So I think, you know, and hopefully that that's a bit of a
success story for us. It's sort of - it has things within it that appeal to different people in different ways.
ANDERSON: However, it is safe to say this documentary has been a huge success. It's got incredible reviews and number of awards. Have you been
surprised by the reaction to the film?
EHRLICH: We knew we had an emotional story. And we knew it was quite a powerful story. But the scale of the response that we received has been
completely overwhelming. We have reached millions of people who wouldn't normally watch an interval, that that means that psychologists saying that
they're recommending film to their - since just things that we would never have foreseen, and that's been very, very exciting.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Let me ask you both and I'll start with you, James. What was the highlight of what is an amazing project and pretty unique one like that?
REED: So it's a personal highlight for me. Well, you know this better than anybody. You never quite know how an interview is going to go. And I think
as soon as it does start to go the way that you'd kind of hoped it would, and you sort of feel like, OK, we're entering something here. It's very,
very personal and very authentic.
EHRLICH: Making this film was completely experimental and most of it. In addition to sitting in the edit suite for many, many hours a day staring
into the eyes of octopuses, and looking for like butchering through the ceiling of the kelp forest, we will also in the water almost every day.
So to have the opportunity to get to see that world through Craig's eyes was absolutely transformative.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had to have a radical change in my life. And the only way I knew that didn't was to be in the fashion with her. And then I had
this crazy idea. What happens if I just went every day?
ANDERSON: This film is nominated for an Oscar. Just how much would that mean to you to win?
EHRLICH: I mean it's hard to even process. In fact, the nomination was way beyond our wildest dreams.
ANDERSON: James?
REED: You know to get the nomination is absolutely fantastic. But yes, I'm honest now. I would love to win it as well of course.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And if you haven't seen it, it's well worth a watch. Just ahead, dying on the vine France is desperate to save its famous grapes from what
some are calling a climate accident. I'll explain up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. A quick quiz for you what puts Russia's President, China's President, America's President, Brazil's President, the King of
Saudi Arabia and the Head of the UN on the same page well, if you've been watching for the last two hours, you will now know it is tackling climate
change. They have all been speaking at a White House summit today promising change and that is because climate change is not an abstract idea.
Our climate and our need to live with it is very, very real. And right now a recent cold snap in France means a bleak harvest and devastated vines
producers frantic to save their precious grape. CNN's Jim Bittermann is connecting us to the French vineyards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a sunny afternoon in Marisol, France. And the nearby burgundy vineyards this would
normally be the time of year when winemakers here would be doing some last minute clipping of their vines and looking forward to a great vintage. Not
this year and not for Thiebault Huber.
THIEBAULT HUBER, BURGUNDY WINEMAKER: The impact is huge.
BITTERMANN: Like so many other wine producers here Huber expects that only 30 percent of his vines will produce grape bunches this year after a warm
week in March brought out the tiny buds but sub freezing temperatures killed many of them off right after Easter.
[11:55:00]
HUBER: On the plant like this, you could have 10 between 8 and 12 little bunches. We will probably have only two, three branches the line. The birds
just break just open a little bit and then we have this kind of frost, a little bit of snow. And so it will actually it's the disaster.
BITTERMANN: There's no doubt in Huber's mind that the early flowering followed by days of freezing temperatures are the result of climate change.
HUBER: We have more periods like frost like this. We have huge - with very high temperature and there is a lot of dry.
BITTERMANN (voice over): In the high value of vineyards around here the nights have been lit up with fires, as the vendors tried everything they
could think of to overcome the freeze. Smoke pots to even helicopters to increase the airflow around the vines.
About the only thing that worked somewhat seemed counterintuitive. If the vines were sprayed with water early enough before the buds flowered, they
became encapsulated in ice, which ironically can protect them later.
Nonetheless, the losses are expected to be huge in the billions of Euros. The French Agricultural Minister called it the greatest agricultural
catastrophe of the 21st century.
BITTERMANN: What's made this situation so catastrophic for France is that this climate accident as some people are calling it has affected not just
the vineyards of Burgundy, but grape growing areas right across the country. What's more, it's also had a devastating effect on fruit
production.
Not far away from Huber's vineyard - looks over his cherry trees in dismay. He estimates the warmest spell followed by the freeze took out 98 percent
of his harvest this year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you counting, there are just two trees in the orchard that escaped.
BITTERMANN: And when - gives his nearby plum trees a shake. It's the same story the dead blossoms, which were meant to be fruit fall like snow. The
government has promised more than a billion Euros in aid to the fruit and wine producers. But like - and Huber many here are skeptical that it will
be enough when losses have been estimated as high as three and a half billion Euros.
What's more, that could be more losses to come. Back in the burgundy vineyards Huber knows there could be freezing temperatures right up until
mid May. What happens if you get another freeze?
HUBER: We don't want to hear this. But we know that we could have frost until middle of May unfortunately.
BITTERMANN: Jim Bittermann, CNN Marisol, France.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Take care of yourselves wherever you are watching in the world. Take care of our planet, your planet. Happy Earth Day to all of you. It's a
very good evening, from Abu Dhabi.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
