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US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including rivals Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for an online summit on the climate crisis, Deutsche Welle reported. 

"They know they're invited. But I haven't spoken to either one of them yet," said Biden of Putin and Xi.

The White House said the summit is scheduled for April 22-23. Washington hopes this summit will help shape, speed up and deepen global efforts to cut climate-wrecking fossil fuel pollution.

Biden has also invited German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the summit.

Other major world leaders invited include Saudi King Salman bin Abdelaziz, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The leaders' summit on climate will underscore the urgency - and the economic benefits - of stronger climate action, according to a statement by the White House.

"The summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good-paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts," the White House said. The US is also expected to announce "an ambitious 2030 emissions target."

Climate action has been one of the main agendas for Biden's team since his election campaign. He announced a goal to make the energy sector emissions neutral by 2035, followed by the US economy as a whole by 2050.