US President Joe Biden plans to skip the annual climate talks in Dubai, attended by around 200 nations, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as domestic challenges with Congress, AP News reports.
The White House will instead send a climate team, including Special Envoy John Kerry, climate adviser Ali Zaidi, and clean energy adviser John Podesta.
The UAE, a major oil producer, is hosting the event, and climate activists criticize the appointment of Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., as president-designate.
The two-week COP28 conference, starting Thursday, aims to address climate change, with nations working to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions.
