By Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, and Alexander Cornwell
WASHINGTON/ABU DHABI (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden is unlikely to attend the 28th meeting of the United Nations “Conference of the Parties” on climate, also known as COP28, in November, according to two U.S. officials and another person briefed on the event’s planning.
The conference will take place from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is a major oil producer.
However, it’s important to note that Biden’s schedule is not yet fixed, and the decision is subject to change until it is officially announced.
The White House has provided no updates on Biden’s travel plans regarding the conference.
A spokesperson for the administration said, “President Biden has led and delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history, both at home and abroad. Although we don’t have any travel updates to share at this time, the Administration looks forward to a robust and productive COP28.”
Biden’s aides are currently juggling various demands for the president’s time, including the ongoing Middle East conflict, negotiations with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives on federal spending, and preparations for an upcoming presidential campaign season expected to intensify in January.
The Dubai meeting will involve numerous countries advocating for a landmark agreement to gradually eliminate CO2-emitting coal, oil, and gas.
Securing such a deal would be a significant achievement for President Biden, particularly as climate change continues to be a top concern for liberal and younger voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Additionally, the conference would provide an opportunity for Biden to engage in face-to-face discussions with Arab and world leaders regarding the Gaza conflict, especially since a planned summit in Jordan this month was canceled. In the past, notable attendees have included Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron.
It is worth mentioning that Biden has attended both COP summits since taking office in 2021. In contrast, former President Donald Trump, a Republican candidate for the 2024 election, chose to skip the events after withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement. Biden subsequently reinstated the U.S.’s commitment to the accord.
Last year, Biden’s participation in COP27 in Egypt was announced just two weeks before the event. During the conference, he highlighted the climate provisions in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act.
Furthermore, it should be noted that Biden did not attend the September summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Vice President Kamala Harris represented the United States.
When asked if Harris would attend COP28, a spokesperson for her stated, “We don’t have any travel to announce.”
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, and Alexander Cornwell; Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Heather Timmons and Stephen Coates)
