Official: Biden’s Absence from COP Climate Meeting in Dubai is Confirmed

U.S. President Joe Biden is not expected to attend the climate change gathering in Dubai this week, according to a U.S. official on Sunday.

Last month, Reuters reported that Biden was unlikely to attend the United Nations “Conference of the Parties” on climate, known as COP28, which begins on Thursday. This is due to the demands of a Middle East war and an upcoming presidential campaign expected to intensify in January.

The president’s schedule for Thursday, as released by the White House, includes hosting a bilateral meeting with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of the Republic of Angola and attending the National Tree Lighting.

Dozens of countries are planning to push for the world’s first deal to phase out CO2-emitting coal, oil and gas at the Dubai meeting.

Biden has attended both of the COP summits since his 2021 inauguration.