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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Argentina has withdrawn its delegates from the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan by order of President Javier Milei, who has long been critical of international climate agendas
• This move follows Milei’s accusations that the UN climate goals promote a “woke agenda,” which he claims offers no credible solutions to global issues
• Milei is expected to travel to Mar-a-Lago to attend a conservative summit and possibly meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump
🔭 The context: Argentina’s sudden departure from COP29 comes amid Milei’s broader distancing from multilateral climate commitments and leftist trade partners in Latin America
• During his UN General Assembly speech in September, Milei criticized climate policies linking global warming to human actions, calling them “ideological”
• His government has also enacted severe domestic cuts, including a budget freeze for public universities and a rollback of support for abortion access, which has sparked protests
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Argentina’s withdrawal is part of a growing trend of climate skepticism among certain political leaders, potentially weakening global climate cooperation
• As the world’s top COP29 delegations negotiate emissions reductions and climate finance, Argentina’s absence signals a potential realignment in international climate priorities, especially if other leaders adopt similar stances
• Milei’s actions highlight the tension between national agendas and international climate goals
⏭️ What's next: Milei’s likely meeting with Trump could solidify a partnership that may challenge global climate agreements
• Argentina’s shift may influence other nations questioning the costs of climate initiatives, which could affect the coherence of future climate summits
• The Biden administration, meanwhile, races to finalize climate commitments before Trump’s inauguration
💬 One quote: "The collectivism and moral high ground from the woke agenda have crashed with reality” – Milei in his critique of international climate policies at the UN
📈 One stat: Since taking office, Milei has implemented sweeping cuts, including freezing the budget for Argentina’s public universities, which has led to mass protests
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