Report: Biden Won't Attend COP28 Meeting in Dubai

Facts

• According to an anonymous White House official, US President Joe Biden will not attend the United Nation's (UN) two-week COP28 climate summit set to begin on Nov. 30.¹
• While the official did not provide a reason for Biden's absence when speaking to the New York Times, Special Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry stated last week that the president had a 'bunch of things going on' – specifically citing current conflicts in the Middle East and in Ukraine.²
• The White House's schedule for Thu. Nov. 30 shows the president hosting a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Angola João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and attending the US National Christmas tree lighting.³
• Kerry will lead negotiations on behalf of the US at the event, with Vice President Kamala Harris' public schedule also showing that she will not attend the summit. Over 70K international delegates are expected to be in attendance.⁴
• Kerry has held talks with Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua prior to the summit, with both claiming the two would work together in Dubai. Biden has spoken at COP events in Glasgow, Scotland, and Sharm Eel-Sheikh, Egypt, since his inauguration.⁵
• Biden called climate change the 'ultimate threat to humanity' earlier this month, while his domestic Inflation Reduction Act commits at least $370B to clean energy over the next decade. Notable figures expected at the event include Pope Francis, King Charles III, and nearly 200 state leaders.⁶

Sources: ¹Independent, ²The New York Times, ³US News & World Report, ⁴France 24, ⁵CNA and ⁶The Japan Times.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Proactive Investors. With the US being the largest producer of oil in the world, the decision for Biden not to attend what may be COP's most important conference is a serious blow to climate discussions. It's more urgent than ever for global leaders to come together, and yet multiple nations continue to refrain from confirming the attendance of major political figures. Without the presence of Biden, Xi Jinping, and many others, the likelihood of meaningful international agreements being achieved at the summit decreases substantially.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Conversation. It is not solely up to national politicians to protect our environment — business leaders, regional figures, and non-state stakeholders will be integral in influencing cross-border consensus. It is also inevitable that COP28 will see the benefit of the resumption of 'soft relations' between the US and China. The UAE is set to convene one of the most inclusive conferences yet, with the potential to create decisive change for the world's future — Biden's absence is not a critical path to major success.

Predictions