Hill climate hawks uncertain about Biden's future - E&E News by POLITICO
Hill climate hawks uncertain about Biden's future - E&E News by POLITICO
Congressional climate hawks are declining to say whether President Joe Biden should run for reelection following his unsteady debate performance last month.
As lawmakers returned from recess Monday, a growing number of Democrats called on the president to step aside, even if most continued to offer some degree of support. But many who have long been seen as Biden allies declined to say one way or another.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), perhaps the most vocal climate advocate on Capitol Hill, said he wanted to discuss the matter with colleagues Tuesday.
“I am not going to talk about this until we’ve had chance to have lunch tomorrow,” said Whitehouse, who could become Environment and Public Works chair next year.
Related Knowledge Center: Climate diplomacy
Talks are well underway in preparation for the next major international meeting on climate change, 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), scheduled to begin Nov. 30 in the United Arab Emirates.
Much like last year’s COP27, finances — specifically, aid to developing nations — will be at the center of conference deliberations.
The conference faces an even greater sense of urgency brought on by the Sept. 8, 2023, release of the first global stocktake, which calls for accelerated action to meet the goals set in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement (COP21).
Climate diplomacy: COP 27 | Climate diplomacy: COP 28 | Climate diplomacy: COP 29