Brenda Mallory reports her work directly to President Joe Biden in Expo City, Dubai, but remains unrecognized. As the chair of the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality, Mallory is responsible for carrying out some of Biden’s overriding climate policies and is working to promote these goals during the United Nations climate conference. Seated on a couch in a busy corridor, Mallory listens intently to KM Reyes, a Filipino community organizer and environmental lobbyist. With a notebook balanced on her lap, Mallory is eager to learn how the U.S. can support advocates like Reyes. “I’m big on details,” Mallory states. “It’s ensuring that we get actual finance on the ground,” Reyes responds. “Because we’re nowhere near the target $20 billion by 2025 to fulfill the framework,” she adds, referring to a global biodiversity agreement signed last year.
The provision of finance is a major concern at COP28, as well as in previous climate conferences. Developed countries bear the responsibility as the main contributors to climate change, so their commitment to provide financial support to developing nations is critical. As the world’s greatest historical polluter, the U.S. is expected to make a significant contribution, yet it has fallen short in recent years. However, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged another $3 billion to a climate fund just prior to Mallory’s arrival in Dubai. The finalization of these financial commitments is contingent upon a divided Congress’ ability to execute, as well as the risk of another election victory by Donald Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.
Mallory is one of several high-ranking U.S. officials attending COP28 to demonstrate the Biden administration’s accomplishments. She is in Dubai for three days leading discussions and promoting the administration’s climate initiatives. On Saturday, Mallory also announced the U.S.’s participation in an international partnership advocating for nature-based climate solutions, and later moderated an event about the administration’s conservation initiative called America the Beautiful. While Mallory was taking part in these initiatives, Republican lawmakers were also present, highlighting the U.S.’s position as one of the world’s leading fossil fuel producers and criticizing the Biden administration’s climate funding commitments.
