FP This Week: Why this COP is different

Plus, what the Global South needs from this round of climate talks. NOVEMBER 28, 2023  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     The foggy skyline of Dubai at sunrise on Dec. 5, 2016. Rustam Azmi/Getty Images Expect a diplomatic sandstorm in Dubai this week, Nigel Purvis [writes](, as world leaders and their ministers begin to gather for the 28th global climate summit, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP). Purvis, the CEO of Climate Advisors, writes that the summit’s host country, the United Arab Emirates, has identified two major goals: one, establishing new goals for greening the global economy, and two, clarifying the financial assistance rich countries should provide to poor ones in making this transition. Read on for a preview of how these issues will play out, why this COP is likely to be [the most contentious in years](—and how the United States and China will jostle for the upper hand throughout. Joining the controversy over this year’s COP are climate activists. They are critical of the UAE’s presiding over the summit, given its significant oil and gas sector. [This skepticism](, Oxford’s Manal Shehabi writes, contrasts with an overwhelming enthusiasm for the gathering and its potential to redress climate injustice amongst populations in the Global South. “Dismissing COP28 on the basis of its oil-producing host is hypocritical and dangerous,” Shehabi argues, “and could obstruct, or even cripple, climate negotiations on matters of importance for the Global South and larger global climate action.” And what matters most for the Global South at this year’s summit? Not a slightly larger Loss and Damage fund, The Economist editor Vijay Vaitheeswaran said in an FP Live yesterday. At last year’s COP, for the first time, global leaders agreed to establish such a fund to support low-income countries suffering from climate crises and disasters. Vaitheeswaran’s take on the fanfare surrounding that announcement is that “it’s something of a distraction… we need to think much more radically and aggressively.” [Watch the video]( of Vaitheeswaran’s conversation with FP’s Ravi Agrawal to hear more about what he thinks world leaders should be focusing on instead, which is equity in terms of access to capital to fund the green transition. With COP28 and key discussions kicking off this week, tune in to a [free FP forum]( with policymakers, thought leaders, and industry leaders—in-person or virtual—on the power of collaborative efforts to address a warming planet. [Register here](.—The Editors P.S. It’s the final hours of our Cyber Week sale. Act now to secure two years of FP Insider for the price of one, including ad-free access to articles, interviews, newsletters, and more. Enter the code [CYBERWEEK]( at checkout to get this offer.   New and Noteworthy - FP Certified: As much fun as gift-giving is, we all know holiday shopping can be stressful. Foreign Policy is here to help. Our staff compiled a [selection of gift ideas](, from a recycled blanket to urban train maps, that are sure to delight the world travelers, inquisitive minds, history buffs, and global foodies in your life. If you’re also looking for a good book, be sure to check out our [top reads in our holiday book guide](. - China Experts: FP’s Robbie Gramer made a trip to what he called “what might be the last pocket of functioning governance in Congress”: the House of Representatives’ China Committee. Formed in January, the group has since facilitated productive bipartisanship that is essential for current U.S.-China [relations](. Gramer had the opportunity to sit down with Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), chair and ranking member respectively, to discuss their priorities, stabilizing interactions between American businesses and China—and [their response to criticism]( that the committee is fueling a new cold war. - Ukraine’s Survival: While the West’s support of Ukraine has led to significant advances against Russia, the strategy is [reaching its limits](. At the current trajectory, “the choice facing the West is not between war and compromise but between defeat and victory,” Nona Mikhelidze writes in an [argument]( for Foreign Policy. Time and resources are of the essence in a conflict that not only becomes more polarized but could also seal Ukraine’s future.   FP Live Rashid Khalidi on the Israel-Hamas WarDec. 1 | 11 a.m. ETThe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is becoming more dire by the day, but Israel says it won’t commit to a cease-fire until Hamas releases all its hostages. How can the world get around this impasse? Historian Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University’s Edward Said professor of modern Arab studies, will join FP’s Ravi Agrawal to discuss potential solutions to the conflict. [Register now](. Takeaways From Biden’s Meeting With XiNov. 17 | 11 a.m. ETChinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to the United States in six years this week, striking [agreements]( with U.S. President Joe Biden that stabilized the U.S.-China relationship—for now—and gave Xi room to focus on improving his country’s economy. To make sense of the meeting, FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with Evan Medeiros, the former China director in the U.S. National Security Council under President Barack Obama; Cindy Yu, an assistant editor at the Spectator and host of its Chinese Whispers podcast; and James Palmer, a deputy editor at FP and author of China Brief. [Watch]( the full conversation now or read the [Q&A](. Stay informed on U.S.-China relations—[sign up]( for FP’s weekly China Brief.   [LAST CHANCE]( [Take in the long view. Two years for half price.]( As an FP reader, you know that smart analysis of the world’s most significant issues is more valuable than ever. In the final hours of our Cyber Week sale, you can save 50 percent and unlock two years of ad-free access to exclusive content and interviews for the price of just one. Act fast and use the promo code [CYBERWEEK]( at checkout to become an FP Insider today. [JOIN NOW](   [The Latest Israel-Hamas Coverage]( [Members of Hamas's armed wing hold a Palestinian flag atop an Israeli tank in Gaza City on Oct. 7. ]( [What Was Hamas Thinking?]( The Oct. 7 attack was the culmination of a strategic shift to challenge the movement’s containment. By Tareq Baconi [This picture, taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke rising above buildings during Israeli strikes on the northern part of the enclave on Nov. 22. ]( [What to Know About the Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal]( If all goes to plan, the agreement is expected to bring a brief respite to suffering civilians in Gaza. By Christina Lu [In an undated photo, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (left) sits with his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, during an interview with Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan.]( [Why Al Qaeda’s Letter Went Viral on TikTok]( Some Gen Z users did sympathize with cherry-picked parts of the letter, but the media also amplified what had been a minor blip. By Sajjan M. Gohel [Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh leaves the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 2, 2020. ]( [Russia Is the Loser in the Israel-Hamas War]( Moscow’s decade as the arbiter of the Middle East is coming to an end. By Peter Schroeder [Protesters stage a demonstration in support of a cease-fire in Gaza in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on Oct. 18. ]( [Israel’s Hostage Deal Means Truce, Not Cease-Fire]( Pressure may increase at home and abroad, but Israel has no interest in stopping its war on Hamas. By Anchal Vohra [What Was Hamas Thinking?]( The Oct. 7 attack was the culmination of a strategic shift to challenge the movement’s containment. By Tareq Baconi [What to Know About the Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal](If all goes to plan, the agreement is expected to bring a brief respite to suffering civilians in Gaza. By Christina Lu [Why Al Qaeda’s Letter Went Viral on TikTok](Some Gen Z users did sympathize with cherry-picked parts of the letter, but the media also amplified what had been a minor blip. By Sajjan M. Gohel [Russia Is the Loser in the Israel-Hamas War](Moscow’s decade as the arbiter of the Middle East is coming to an end. By Peter Schroeder [Israel’s Hostage Deal Means Truce, Not Cease-Fire](Pressure may increase at home and abroad, but Israel has no interest in stopping its war on Hamas. By Anchal Vohra   [Ends Today: 2 Years for the Price of 1]( [Offer expires soon. Get access to Foreign Policy’s smart debate, expert opinion and forward-looking analysis for half the price.]( [GET OFFER](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's This Week newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? 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