United States Climate Envoy, John Kerry, to Step Down and Join Biden’s Campaign
In a surprising move, United States climate envoy, John Kerry, has announced his plans to leave his position in the coming months in order to participate in President Joe Biden’s election campaign. Kerry, 80, a former Democratic presidential candidate and secretary of state, informed the White House of his decision this week, marking the end of his tenure as the country’s climate envoy.
Kerry’s departure comes after he played a key role in achieving a significant agreement at COP 28, the UN climate change summit in Dubai last month. The agreement saw countries pledging to “leave behind” fossil fuels, a major contributor to global warming.
No specific date has been set for Kerry’s departure, but it is expected to occur sometime before April. In the meantime, he plans to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week and the Munich Security Conference in February.
Kerry’s replacement, however, will face a tough battle to obtain confirmation in the Senate. A change in the law now requires the climate envoy to undergo Senate approval, a process that did not apply to Kerry when he was appointed in 2021.
During his time as climate envoy, Kerry has been at the forefront of US climate change policy, leading the country’s delegations to three UN climate summits. He played a crucial role in the signing of the Paris accords, which set goals for emissions cuts for signatory countries.
Following Kerry’s departure, whoever takes on the role will have big shoes to fill as they continue to advocate for global action on climate change. Kerry’s successor will also have to navigate the complexities of international relations, particularly with China, the world‘s other major carbon emitter.
Kerry’s harmonious relationship with Xie Zhenhua, his counterpart from China, has been instrumental in addressing challenging issues such as emissions reductions. The two envoys have maintained contacts during moments of crisis in the US-China relationship, and Kerry’s visit to China in 2023 was a crucial step in normalizing ties between the two countries.
Overall, Kerry’s departure marks the end of an era in US climate diplomacy, as the country continues to prioritize its role in the fight against global warming.