Vice President Kamala Harris will join the U.S. delegation to Dubai for the annual United Nations conference on climate change, the White House said Wednesday. This weekend’s trip for COP28 appears to have been hastily arranged, since her staff recently said she had no plans to attend.
Quick Read
- Vice President Harris Attends COP28: Kamala Harris will join the U.S. delegation at the United Nations climate change conference in Dubai.
- Last-Minute Trip Arrangement: Harris’ trip to COP28 was hastily organized, despite earlier statements that she had no plans to attend.
- Response to Criticism of Biden: The announcement follows criticism of President Joe Biden’s decision to skip the summit and his canceled trip to Africa.
- Biden’s Call with UAE President: In a call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, Biden discussed Harris’ role in showcasing U.S. leadership on climate issues at COP28.
- Other U.S. Officials Attending: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, John Kerry, Ali Zaidi, and John Podesta will also attend the Dubai summit.
- COP28’s Purpose: The conference is a platform for world leaders to evaluate progress in combating global warming.
- Brief Duration of Harris’ Participation: Harris will have a short stay at the conference, leaving Washington on Friday and returning Sunday.
- Significance of Harris’ Visit to Arab Nation: This marks the first visit by a high-ranking U.S. leader to an Arab country since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
- Biden’s Canceled Middle East Trip: Biden had planned to visit Jordan and Israel in October, but the trip was canceled following a controversial explosion in Gaza.
- Investigation of Gaza Hospital Blast: Although Hamas initially blamed Israel for the Gaza hospital explosion, further investigation, including by The Associated Press, suggested it was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket.
The Associated Press has the story:
Vice President Harris will attend COP28 climate conference in Dubai
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
Vice President Kamala Harris will join the U.S. delegation to Dubai for the annual United Nations conference on climate change, the White House said Wednesday.
This weekend’s trip for COP28 appears to have been hastily arranged, since her staff recently said she had no plans to attend.
White House officials did not explain the change in plans, but the announcement comes after criticism of Joe Biden’s decision to skip the summit. He’s also no longer expected to make a promised trip to Africa before the end of the year.
The White House said Biden spoke Wednesday with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting COP28. According to an official summary of the call, Biden said Harris will “showcase U.S. global leadership on climate at home and abroad” and will “help galvanize increased global ambition at this critical event.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, special envoy John Kerry, climate adviser Ali Zaidi and clean energy adviser John Podesta are going to Dubai as well. The summit is an opportunity for world leaders to assess their progress — or lack thereof — in the fight against global warming.
Harris’ participation in the two-week conference will be brief, and she’s scheduled to leave Washington on Friday and return Sunday.
Her trip will be closely watched for reasons other than climate change. She’s the highest-ranking U.S. leader to visit an Arab nation since the war between Israel and Hamas began almost two months ago.
Biden had originally planned to visit Jordan as well as Israel in October, but the stop was scrapped amid controversy over an explosion at a hospital in the Gaza Strip.
Although the blast was initially blamed on Israel by Hamas authorities, further analysis — including by The Associated Press — indicated that a misfired Palestinian rocket was the cause.
