US president Donald Trump on Thursday (22) described the air in India and China as "filthy" as he denounced Democratic rival Joe Biden's plans to tackle climate change.
At their second and final presidential debate, Trump renewed his criticism that action on climate change was unfair to the United States.
"Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia, look at India -- it's filthy. The air is filthy," Trump said at the debate in Nashville.
Trump charged that Biden's climate plan was an "economic disaster" for oil states such as Texas and Oklahoma.
Biden said that climate change is "an existential threat to humanity. We have a moral obligation to deal with it."
"We're going to pass the point of no return within the next eight to 10 years," he said.
The planet has already warmed by around one degree Celsius (34 degrees Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial levels, enough to boost the intensity of deadly heat waves, droughts and tropical storms.
Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord, which aims to cap global warming "well below" two degrees Celsius.
Trump's remarks come days before secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defense secretary Mark Esper visit New Delhi for talks on building the growing US-India partnership.
At the first presidential debate, Trump also spoke critically of India, questioning its coronavirus data amid criticism of Trump's handling of the pandemic.
Manmohan Singh; the then prime minister of India walks in procession through Cambridge University in October 2006 before receiving an honorary Doctor of Law degree
With US president Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the White House in November 2009
With Pakistan prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at the 2011 ICC World Cup semifinal in Mohali, north India
Meeting Queen Elizabeth II during a reception for G20 leaders at Buckingham Palace in April 2009 
The scale of the event is immense, comparable to the combined populations of the United States and Canada. (Photo: Getty Images)
A Hindu devotee smeared with ash dances during a religious procession ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 10. (Photo: Getty Images)
Pilgrims carrying their belongings walk over floating pontoon bridges to go to Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Prayagraj on January 12. (Photo: Getty Images)
