Biden Will Not Attend the UN Climate Summit in Dubai

An American official revealed today, Monday, that President Joe Biden will not attend a meeting of world leaders focusing on climate change in Dubai this week. Reuters reported last month that Biden is unlikely to attend the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP28, which begins on Thursday. He is balancing the demands of a war in the Middle East with a presidential campaign expected to intensify in January. According to the president's schedule for Thursday released by the White House, he will meet with João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, and will attend the lighting of the national Christmas tree. Dozens of countries plan to push for the world's first agreement to phase out coal, oil, and gas, which are responsible for carbon dioxide emissions, at the Dubai summit. Biden attended two COP summits since taking office in 2021.