By Naomi Ezra
The official White House schedule confirms President Joe Biden’s absence from the inaugural events of the UN Climate Change Conference set to take place in Dubai later this week. While the White House has not provided an official reason for his non-attendance, insights from senior officials suggest that President Biden’s engagement in addressing the ongoing Gaza war is the primary factor. His focus reportedly revolves around pushing for an extended pause in the conflict and advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Despite the absence of President Biden, the U.S. will be represented by John Kerry, the Biden administration’s designated climate envoy and key figure in international negotiations addressing the climate crisis. The conference, known as COP28, will convene representatives from approximately 200 countries over a two-week period starting Thursday in the United Arab Emirates.
This marks a departure from President Biden’s participation in the previous two climate summits held in Scotland and Egypt. Earlier this month, he underscored the severity of the climate crisis, describing it as the “ultimate threat to humanity.”
The agenda for COP28 encompasses critical discussions, including the formulation of a new target for the expansion of renewable energies. Additionally, discussions will revolve around establishing a financial fund to address damages and losses associated with climate change. An official assessment of whether the world is on track to contain the climate crisis will also be a key focus during the conference.
