US climate envoy John Kerry, who plays a key role in the US administration in the fight against climate change, will resign in order to contribute to President Biden’s re-election campaign, media reported on Saturday. The resignation of John Kerry, 80, should take effect by spring, according to the New York Times. Since 2021, the former secretary of state and senator has liaised with other countries to obtain commitments on climate change, notably at the last United Nations climate summit, COP28, which took place is held in Dubai.
John Kerry intends to take part in Joe Biden’s campaign by publicizing the president’s work in the fight against global warming, according to several American media outlets citing officials familiar with the matter. John Kerry informed Joe Biden of his intention to leave on Wednesday, and his team learned of his decision on Saturday, these media reported.
Effective work with China
The former secretary of state led the American delegation to three United Nations climate summits but also worked effectively with China, despite complicated diplomatic relations. These two countries alone are responsible for some 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In a rare show of unity, the United States and China sealed a historic, if watered-down, agreement in December at the COP28 climate summit to begin moving away from oil, gas and coal, the main culprits. of the global climate crisis.
John Kerry had welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua a month earlier in California, where the two countries had agreed on the broad outlines of climate action which partly served as the basis for the Dubai agreement involving nearly 200 countries. The news of John Kerry’s resignation comes a day after the announcement of Xie Zhenhua’s retirement.