Vice-president Kamala Harris joined Mr Biden for the signing ceremony. [Source: BBC]

US President Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders designed to address climate change, including a new ban on some energy drilling.

The orders aim to freeze new oil and gas leases on public lands and double offshore wind-produced energy by 2030.

They are expected to meet stiff resistance from the energy industry and come as a sea change from Donald Trump, who cut environmental protections.

Mr Biden said the US “must lead” a global response to the climate change crisis.