In a surprising move, President Joe Biden is not expected to attend the opening of the global climate summit in Dubai this week, according to a White House schedule of the president's events. The decision has drawn criticism from climate advocates who argue that his absence sends a message that the United States is not fully engaged in international climate efforts.

While top US officials, including special envoy John Kerry and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, will be attending the gathering, President Biden's absence is notable. Biden has made tackling climate change a centerpiece of his policy agenda and his reelection bid, with young voters considering it a key issue heading into the 2024 election.

Since taking office, Biden has personally attended the annual UN climate summit in 2021 and 2022, but it remains unclear whether he will participate virtually this year. Although it is not unprecedented for US presidents to skip some international climate summits, Tom Evans, a policy adviser for international climate think tank E3G, considered Biden's absence as a missed opportunity.

"It's definitely a shame that he won't be there. When he's not part of the conversation, that shows the US that's not fully at the table at the highest level," Evans remarked, underscoring the significance of President Biden's participation in shaping global climate policies.

The decision has the potential to frustrate climate advocates both domestically and internationally. While some activists and small island nations have questioned the effectiveness of the annual international climate summit process, high-profile Swedish youth activist Greta Thunberg opted not to attend, labeling it a space for "greenwashing" last year.

Stevie O'Hanlon, spokesperson for youth climate group the Sunrise Movement, expressed their disappointment with both Biden's absence and the summit itself. O'Hanlon noted that previous US presidents have not prioritized leading on the international stage in addressing climate change.

However, the absence of President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also not expected to attend the summit, does not diminish the recent major climate agreement announced between the two nations. The US and China have committed to jointly reducing their planet-warming pollution, signaling a significant step towards global climate action.

The Biden administration's handling of climate change, coupled with low approval ratings from voters and trailing in polls against former President Donald Trump, raises concerns leading up to the 2024 general election. A recent Washington Post-University of Maryland poll revealed that 57% of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of climate policy, including a majority of voters aged 18-29.

In response to criticisms, a White House spokesperson cited President Biden's climate agenda, highlighting achievements such as securing the largest climate investment in history and rallying world leaders to raise their climate ambition. The spokesperson also emphasized the presence of other senior officials who will continue to build upon the administration's efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

As the global climate summit unfolds without President Biden's physical presence, the international community will be closely watching how the United States engages and leads on the critical issue of climate change.