Biden Unlikely to Attend COP28 in UAE
US President Joe Biden is not expected to attend a climate-focused gathering of world leaders in November, according to two US officials and another person familiar with the event’s planning.
The 28th meeting of the United Nations “Conference of the Parties” on climate, known as COP28, is scheduled from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai.
It’s important to note that President Biden’s schedule is not final, could still change, and has not been officially announced. Two sources emphasized that no definitive decision has been made.
The White House stated that it does not have any updates on President Biden’s travel plans but mentioned that his administration is looking forward to a productive COP28.
President Biden’s advisors are juggling various demands on his time, including addressing the situation in the Middle East, navigating a showdown with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives over federal spending, and preparing for the upcoming presidential campaign season, expected to intensify in January.
Several countries plan to advocate for the world’s first agreement to phase out CO2-emitting coal, oil, and gas at the Dubai meeting. Achieving such an agreement would be a significant accomplishment for the Democratic president in advance of the 2024 presidential election, where climate change is a top concern for many liberal and younger voters.
Additionally, the event would provide President Biden with an opportunity to meet in person with Arab and other world leaders to discuss the situation in Gaza, especially after a planned summit in Jordan for this month was canceled. Last year, leaders like Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron attended the event.
