Picture by Land NRW, Phil Dera
Monday, 17 May 2021, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany: US President Joe Biden‘s Special Envoy for Climate, and erstwhile 68th Secretary of State John Kerry was received at the Representation ofthe State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Berlin by the latter state’s Premier Armin Laschet.
Both spoke about combating climate change as a global challenge. Special Envoy Kerry was accompanied by the Chargée d’affaires at the USA Embassy in Germany, Robin S. Quinville. Special Envoy John Kerry advises the US President on climate change issues. This is the first time an envoy for climate change is appointed.
Premier Armin Laschet underlined North Rhine-Westphalia’s experience in reducing greenhouse gases: “North Rhine-Westphalia is a pioneer in climate protection. By phasing out lignite, we are making a major contribution to reducing CO2. At the same time, we continue to set ourselves ambitious goals for the future: We will double the amount of renewable energies in North Rhine-Westphalia by 2030.”
Germany works with the United States in the field of climate protection at all levels. Areas of cooperation include the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, which was established in 2008 as a joint initiative of the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety with Canada and the United States. In the past four years, collaboration has taken place chiefly at municipal level and between enterprises and civil society organisations. With the new US Administration, this cooperation will be rejuvenated. In future, another important field of collaboration will be renewable energies. The global energy transition is essential in the fight against global warming. Climate-neutral hydrogen and its derivatives in particular will play a crucial role in decarbonisation.
The US Special Envoy on Climate Change, John Kerry, made stops in London and Rome over the past few days. In Rome, Kerry spoke with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi as well as high-ranking business representatives. In the Vatican, he was received by the Bishop of Rome, Franciscus. In London, Kerry met with COP 26 President Alok Sharma. The UN climate conference is scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, in autumn 2021, after it had to be postponed in 2020 in the wake of the Corona pandemic.
In Berlin Special Envoy Kerry was also treated by Federal President Dr. Steinmeier to a private dinner, and was received by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas beforehand at the Foreign Office located in Berlin-Mitte.
For further information
Government of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-armin-laschet-empfaengt-us-klimasondergesandten-john-kerry
German Foreign Office: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/themen/klima/maas-kerry/2459880
