The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in Dubai, UAE, in November 2023 was a pivotal moment in the global climate conversation. For the United States, the event represented a key opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to climate action and showcase leadership on the world stage. With severe weather events increasingly affecting the U.S. and global climate disruptions intensifying, the Biden administration has made climate change a central issue in its policy agenda, and COP28 provided the platform to advance those goals.
COP28 brought together global leaders, scientists, activists, and business executives to discuss actionable steps to combat climate change. U.S. President Joe Biden made headlines with his speech emphasizing the need for coordinated global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, accelerate the transition to renewable energy, and fund climate adaptation initiatives. His administration has already taken steps to reduce emissions, but the global nature of the issue requires multilateral solutions. At COP28, the U.S. also advocated for wealthier nations to increase funding for climate-resilient projects in developing countries, which are often the most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing the least to global emissions.
Key figures such as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and environmental activist Greta Thunberg also played prominent roles, pushing for more ambitious goals and stronger commitments from both governments and industries. One of the most notable outcomes of the conference was the creation of a global carbon pricing initiative, which aims to level the playing field for countries committed to reducing their carbon footprints while ensuring that climate change mitigation efforts remain financially viable.
For Americans, the potential consequences of COP28 outcomes are far-reaching. From wildfires in the West to hurricanes in the Southeast, climate change has already begun to alter the daily lives of U.S. citizens. The Biden administration’s climate agenda has significant domestic implications, such as investments in green technologies, job creation in the renewable energy sector, and efforts to rebuild the American infrastructure to withstand future climate events.
COP28 was also marked by significant dialogue surrounding the role of corporate America in tackling climate change. Big tech, finance, and energy companies are increasingly under pressure to not only adopt sustainable practices but also to make measurable contributions to global emission reductions.
