Biden Isn't Going To COP28 Because Nothing's Going On There

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Pope Francis canceled his trip to COP28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week. But England’s King Charles is going. The White House said Joe Biden won’t go, which some people find shocking because the US has such a huge stake in and contribution to the climate crisis. However, the US President has chosen to not attend this event because there is no real change that will come from this gathering.

Biden must know what is going on behind the scenes at this climate summit based on an exclusive story from the BBC As reported, the UAE plans to make oil and gas deals with some of the participants. That’s a reason for anyone to be cynical about the UAE’s real reason for hosting COP28. The BBC writes, “Leaked briefing documents reveal plans to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations.” The UAE responded that “private meetings are private.” Wrong answer.

NPR just ran a scathing article about the summit. Biden may have read this, too. The authors point out that 45,000 people will attend. Some are politicians, some are scientists, and many of the world’s largest oil companies will attend as well. There have been many of these meetings in the past. Climate change is getting worse, and promises made at earlier summits have not been kept. NPR’s observation is that “Last year’s COP27 meeting in Egypt ended with a watered-down agreement that left out language calling for a phaseout of all fossil fuels — the biggest driver of global warming.”

At least the call to arms by the UN should have caused Biden to get on Air Force One. It didn’t. Simon Stiell of Grenada, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, told The Guardian, “We’re used to talking about protecting people on the far-flung frontlines. We’re now at the point where we’re all on the frontline. Yet most governments are still strolling when they need to be sprinting.” In other words, the reason for the meeting is that it is again “a last chance.” Biden has heard that before.

Finally, Biden has done what he can do in the US to contribute to solving the climate crisis. He has to contend with Congress. He has to contend with companies and industries over which he only has the most modest ability to control. If he did go to the meeting, he would mostly go empty-handed.