New York | President Joe Biden will not attend a major United Nations climate summit that begins on Thursday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, skipping an event expected to be attended by King Charles III, Pope Francis and leaders from nearly 200 countries, a White House official said on Sunday (Monday AEDT).

The official, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the president’s schedule, did not give a reason for Mr Biden’s absence at the two-week summit, known as COP28.