COP28 Climate Summit Begins Amid Controversy and Absence of Key Leaders

The annual United Nations climate change summit, facing its first review of progress towards the Paris Agreement, is marred by the absence of some world leaders and allegations against the COP28 president.

World leaders, government representatives and delegates are set to gather for the annual United Nations climate change summit, known as the Conference of the Parties or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates
Reining in fossil fuels and carbon emissions are expected to be topping the agenda of the 13-day summit.
Countries will face the first review of their progress towards the Paris Agreement, a landmark international treaty on limiting carbon emissions that was signed at the COP21, almost eight years ago.
Some world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden signaled they would not be attending the negotiations that come during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war roiling the wider Middle East.
COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber was willing to raise oil and gas commercial interests during climate meetings with foreign governments ahead of the United Nations summit starting in Dubai later this week.

South China Morning Post