Biden announces funding for climate change programs, but does not declare emergency | FULL

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U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday US$2.3 billion would be provided to communities across the country to help build infrastructure "that's designed to withstand the full range of disasters we've been seeing up to today," giving examples of extreme heat, drought and tornadoes.

Biden added that action was needed because the climate crisis was a "clear and present danger."

He said they'd also deploy $385 million for states to fund air conditioners in homes and cooling centres, however he stopped short of declaring a climate emergency that would allow the president to reroute funds to climate efforts without congressional approval.

The president had promised "strong executive action" to combat climate change last week, despite dual setbacks in recent weeks that have restricted his ability to regulate carbon emissions and boost clean energy, such as wind and solar power.