A global climate agreement
After two weeks of heated debate, diplomats from nearly 200 countries agreed to a comprehensive agreement at the UN climate summit in Dubai that explicitly called for “phasing out fossil fuels.”
The agreement calls for countries to completely stop emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by mid-century, triple the amount of renewable energy installed worldwide by 2030 and reduce emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas.
For insights, we reached out to our colleague Lisa Friedman, who was in Dubai to cover the COP28 summit.
What was different about this climate summit?
Lisa: Holding a conference in a petroleum state was never going to be easy. But as someone who has now covered 12 of these COPs, I think it was very insightful. All around us we were confronted with the spoils of oil every day.
At the same time, there is this very stark contrast between small island leaders and others who are essentially telling the UAE and the Saudis that their luxuries come at the expense of the existence of the island nations. For me, the location of the summit really highlights all the needs of different countries that the United Nations needs to reconcile.
How did the agreement come about?
European leaders and many of the nations most affected by climate-related extreme weather events pushed for language calling for a complete “phase-out” of fossil fuels. However, this was met with resistance from major oil producers, led by Saudi Arabia. In the end they found a middle ground.
How do the countries feel about the agreement?
This left some – particularly island leaders – deeply dissatisfied. In fact, many island leaders said they did not even have the opportunity to offer changes or raise concerns before Sultan Al Jaber, the Emirati oil executive who chaired the conference, passed the decision, declaring it adopted by consensus.
At the same time, it is notable that it took 28 of these annual climate change conferences before governments were willing to name the elephant in the room – fossil fuels – the burning of which is the primary cause of planetary warming.
What is your main takeaway from the final agreement?
The decision was a compromise and should be viewed as such. But it's important. Many world leaders have said that it sends the signal that the fossil fuel era is coming to an end, which just five years ago I could not have imagined this body would do.
Netanyahu's falling out with Biden
A disagreement with the United States over what a postwar Gaza Strip should look like poses risks for the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – including questions about how much support it might hope to receive, analysts say. But it also offers Netanyahu an opportunity to improve his domestic approval ratings by presenting himself as a leader who will not be bowed to foreign demands.
A day after President Biden flagged the risk of losing support, Israeli officials indicated they would not be deterred by mounting condemnation from the international community. Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, is expected to arrive in Jerusalem this week to discuss the war and its possible consequences with Netanyahu.
Analysis: “He is considering a possible election campaign in a few months,” Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, said of Netanyahu. “This will be his platform: 'I am the leader who can stand up to Biden and prevent a Palestinian state.'”
Related: The families of eight Americans still held by Hamas in Gaza had their first face-to-face meeting with Biden yesterday.
A new urgency is gripping Ukraine
With the counteroffensive failed and its supplies and support dwindling, Ukraine finds itself at a crucial moment as Moscow – once faced with the consequences of a disastrous invasion – celebrates its ability to endure a protracted war.
Ukraine must now adopt a defensive posture as it prepares for a harsh winter of Russian attacks and energy shortages. The United States, its main backer, is becoming increasingly preoccupied with the war in Gaza, and the possible return to office of Donald Trump, a long-time critic of Ukraine, is looming.
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A new age of surveillance?
Brian Chen, who writes the Tech Fix column for The Times, has spent the last two weeks secretly taking photos and videos of passersby. “I didn’t hide the camera,” he writes, “but I wore it and no one noticed.”
Brian tested the recently released $300 Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which were the result of a collaboration between the eyewear maker and the company formerly known as Facebook. As part of a broader ambition to shift computing technology away from screens and towards our faces, the high-tech glasses include a camera for taking photos and videos, as well as a range of speakers and microphones.
But after wearing them “virtually non-stop” for weeks, Brian was relieved to be able to take them off. Read more about why.