Special climate envoy John Kerry will represent the US president at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates next week. The White House is pushing an international agenda that is too preoccupied with the war in Gaza.
Published on: November 28, 2023 – 06:53
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With our correspondent in Miami, David Thomson
A few weeks ago, Joe Biden described global warming as the ultimate threat to humanity. This year, however, the President of the United States wants to forego COP28, as does his Vice President Kamala Harris.
Although it was not common for American presidents to attend every United Nations climate conference before his arrival, Joe Biden had attended the two previous COPs. In 2021, in Glasgow, he even announced the USA’s return to the Paris Agreement and apologized for his country’s withdrawal decided by his predecessor Donald Trump.
Global warming remains a priority
The White House points to the president and his vice president’s particularly busy international agenda this year. “With a war in the Middle East and another in Ukraine, they have two or three things to do,” said John Kerry wryly last week, White House special climate envoy who is therefore leading negotiations for the United States during this period will be this 28th UN Climate Change Conference, which is scheduled to open in Dubai this Thursday and run until December 12th.
Global warming remains one of the priorities of his mandate, the White House spokesman assures. “Joe Biden,” she said, “has launched the most ambitious climate program in history.” » A reference to the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $370 billion over 10 years to phase out fossil fuels.