Leaders of world’s biggest polluting countries skipping UN climate summit

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, leaders of two biggest carbon emitters, among those not attending summit in New York

Leaders of some of the world's biggest polluting countries are skipping a UN summit on Wednesday aimed at generating some progress in the spluttering effort to address the climate crisis, during what may be the hottest year ever recorded.

The climate ambition summit, convened by Antonio Guterres, the UN's secretary general, will feature more than 100 national governments who have traveled to New York to outline renewed plans to curb global heating and help people adapt to its impacts. The UN has said the event will showcase first movers and doers" among countries most willing to act on the climate crisis.