John Kerry and the Prince of Monaco. Picture by Gaetan Luci, Palais Princier de Monaco.
20 January 2021, Washington D.C., United States of America: Erstwhile 68th Secretary of State (2013-2017), John Kerry began his commission as special climate envoy. The position is a cabinet-level one with authority over energy and climate policies.
Kerry’s appointment does not require US Senate confirmation as he is deemed as a ‘presidential envoy’. Nonetheless he shall hold a seat on the National Security Council in the White House.
President Joe Biden has pledged to reverse course on climate from President Donald Trump, who doubts mainstream climate science. Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate, and dismantled Obama-era climate and environmental regulations to boost drilling, mining and manufacturing.´
Whilst serving as secretary of state under former President Barack Obama, Kerry, 76, called climate change “the world’s most fearsome weapon of mass destruction.” In travels from glaciers in Greenland to the Solomon Islands, Kerry has emphasized cooperation on tackling climate change.
For further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Special_Presidential_Envoy_for_Climate
