The Sunday Subject – December 24, 2023

The UN global summit on climate change produced an agreement that, for the first time, calls on countries to transition away from fossil fuels.

While compromises were made, such as phasing down “unabated” coal rather than “phasing out” all fossil fuels, the document has been described as historic. Climate diplomacy played a crucial role, with the chairman of the summit, Sultan al-Jaber, and an agreement between the US and China helping secure a deal.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for humanitarian pauses between Israel and Hamas.

The compromise resolution, in which the US abstained, calls for increased aid to Gaza, extended humanitarian access in Gaza, and a sustainable end to the conflict. The US previously vetoed a ceasefire resolution.

In a rare criticism, Joe Biden described Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza as “indiscriminate.”

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has been dispatched to Israel to discuss a timetable to scale back operations. Israel’s foreign minister said a ceasefire now would be a “gift” to Hamas, and that the war will continue “with or without international support.”