Saudi Arabia Is a ‘Wrecking Ball’ in Global Climate Talks
Despite endorsing a transition away from fossil fuels last year, Saudi officials have since worked to undermine it in at least five U.N. forums, diplomats said.
By Lisa Friedman
David Gelles
I’m a reporter on the New York Times climate team and I lead The Times’s Climate Forward newsletter and events series.
What I Cover
Business. Policy. Philanthropy. Litigation. Activism. There are climate stories everywhere, and my work involves chasing them wherever they lead. I’ve reported from United Nations climate talks in Scotland and Egypt, traveled to Louisiana to cover efforts to close chemical plants, and visited Puerto Rico for an article about efforts to get big oil companies to pay for the damage caused by hurricanes.
My Background
Before joining the climate team, I spent eight years as a business reporter at The Times, covering chief executives, tech, media, Wall Street and more. I was the Corner Office columnist from 2018 to 2022. Before joining The Times in 2013, I was a reporter for the Financial Times in New York and San Francisco.
I am the author of “The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America — and How to Undo His Legacy,” and “Mindful Work: How Meditation Is Changing Business From the Inside Out.” I studied at the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism and at Boston University, and live in New York with my family.
Journalistic Ethics
One of the things I value most about being able to work at The Times is the fact that we are not beholden to special interests, advertisers or powerful individuals and truly are able to maintain our intellectual independence. Like all Times journalists, I’m committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook.
Contact Me
Email: [email protected]
X: @dgelles
Threads: @dgelles
WhatsApp: Email the tip line for my WhatsApp or signal contact.
LinkedIn: David Gelles
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips
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CreditSeth Harrison/USA Today Network/via Reuters 
CreditNatalie Behring for The New York Times 
CreditErin Schaff/The New York Times 
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