Biden Skips Dubai's Climate Summit, Leaves Kerry in Charge
In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden won't be gracing the Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai this year, as mentioned by a US official. With no indication of a journey to Dubai on the White House's agenda, speculations about Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris' presence in the climate summit have been debunked. A US representative confirmed the President's absenteeism from both the initially scheduled week and a possible second window during the conference's closing stages.
Although the US official didn't disclose the rationale behind the President's choice, recent developments suggest that Biden has been preoccupied with the Israel-Hamas conflict and emphasizing his domestic agenda before the presidential elections next year.
Historically, US Presidents haven't typically shown up at these climate conferences. In fact, during his tenure, former President Biden attended the 2021 Glasgow meeting, but his predecessor, Donald Trump, shunned the Paris Climate Agreement and international efforts aimed at improving climate protection.
However, a US official has hinted at the possibility of sending a senior US government official to Dubai to represent the current administration, even with its leader absent. With this in mind, US climate envoy John Kerry will take the reins of the day-to-day discussions on climate for the United States.
According to certain reports, the upcoming COP28, scheduled for November 30, will see around 70,000 attendees, including heads of state, government representatives, and Pope Francis. Key talking points are likely to include the future exploitation of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal.
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It is important to note that during Donal Trump's leadership, the US withdrew from the Paris Agreement. With the newly instated President, Joe Biden, the US reengaged in international climate cooperations. However, the current political climate raises questions about the level of US engagement at COP28.
In light of this new administration, the future of US climate negotiations may be led by US climate envoy John Podesta or another high-ranking official. However, specific details about who will lead the US delegation to COP28 have yet to be unveiled. Podesta's concerns about the new administration's stance on climate change also shed light on their stance in international climate cooperation agreements.
