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Joe Biden (center) in the New York borough of Queens.
The Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also attended the visit of the US President
Photo: Evan Vucci / dpa
After the devastating storm in the northeastern United States, President Joe Biden warned in drastic words about the consequences of the climate crisis during a visit to the disaster area.
The rapidly progressing changes in the climate correspond to the "red alert," said Biden on a visit to the New York borough of Queens.
“The country and the world are in danger.
This is not an exaggeration.
That's a fact."
"Climate change is an existential threat to our lives, to our economy - and the threat is here," Biden said.
The situation will not improve on its own; decisive action is necessary for this.
"We can keep it from getting worse," said the President.
Biden announced that he wanted to take part in the UN world climate conference in November in Glasgow, Scotland. However, it initially remained open whether he wanted to travel in person or be connected online. Biden has made the fight against climate change one of the main goals of his government.
"Ida" hit the US coast a week and a half ago as a force four (of five) hurricane southwest of New Orleans and caused massive damage. At least 13 people were killed in the hurricane in Louisiana and the neighboring state of Mississippi. There were power outages in hundreds of thousands of households. Then the storm weakened overland and moved on to the northeast. There, heavy rains and catastrophic floods occurred in the metropolis of New York and in several states. Dozens of people were killed in the process.
Biden had already visited Louisiana on Friday.
He also called for a common fight against climate change.
He also promised help from the federal government.
"I know you are suffering," he said in LaPlace, near New Orleans.
"I want you to know: we will be there for you." Political motives should not play a role in disaster relief and reconstruction.
“It's not about whether you're a Democrat or a Republican.
We're Americans and we'll get through this together. "
aar / dpa