There are plans for Vice President Kamala Harris to make an appearance at the global climate summit, COP28, in Dubai, stepping in after President Joe Biden faced criticism for not attending the summit’s opening this week, as per a source familiar with the arrangement.
This expected move aligns with Harris’s recent efforts to increase her public engagement on climate-related issues. Lately, she’s been actively participating in events focusing on climate change, especially engaging with students and young voters who consider this matter significant.
CNN has reached out to the vice president’s office for clarification. Kirsten Allen, a spokeswoman for Harris, previously stated that there were no intentions for Harris to be present at the conference. The anticipated plans were first reported by Bloomberg.
This follows discontent among climate activists and experts over Biden’s absence from this year’s gathering. While Biden attended the annual UN climate summit in person in both 2021 and 2022 since taking office, his absence this time has drawn criticism.
According to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll conducted in July, 57% of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of climate policy, with 59% of voters aged 18-29 expressing dissatisfaction. While 74% of Democrats approve of Biden’s approach, only 40% of independents and a mere 8% of Republicans agree. A majority of Americans, about 71%, claim to have little or no information about the Inflation Reduction Act, a significant climate policy law signed by Biden last year.
The administration’s management of climate change mirrors a broader trend preceding the upcoming general election in the following year. Recent polls have indicated low approval ratings for Biden, along with trailing behind former President Donald Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, particularly in battleground states. Meanwhile, the administration faces challenges in effectively communicating its major accomplishments to voters.
In response to inquiries about the president’s absence from the summit, the White House has highlighted the participation of top US officials such as special envoy John Kerry and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. Nearly 200 countries will be represented at the conference.
Although it’s not unprecedented for US presidents to skip every international climate summit, Biden’s absence is still noteworthy, as noted by Tom Evans, a policy adviser at the international climate think tank E3G. Speaking to CNN earlier this week, Evans expressed disappointment, stating that Biden’s non-participation signifies the US’s limited presence at the highest levels of global climate discussions and represents a missed opportunity, particularly considering the upcoming 2024 election.
“This will be the last COP before the US election – the election might happen during the next COP,” Evans mentioned in his conversation with CNN.
Nevertheless, some activists and small island nations have raised concerns about the efficacy of the annual international climate summit process. Notably, Swedish youth activist Greta Thunberg opted out of the summit last year, describing it as a platform for “greenwashing.”
