Biden prioritizes climate crisis by naming John Kerry special envoy
“This marks the first time that the NSC will include an official dedicated to climate change, reflecting the president-elect’s commitment to addressing climate change as an urgent national security issue,” the Biden transition group stated in a press release.
The elevation of the difficulty in Kerry’s appointment previews a shift in coverage and strategy from the present President’s repeated denial of the scientific actuality of the crisis and systematic rollback of environmental insurance policies.
“It’ll be an honor to work with our allies and partners, alongside rising young leaders in the climate movement, to tackle the climate crisis with the seriousness and urgency it deserves,” Kerry wrote in a tweet.
The power across the concern of the climate crisis has escalated in a brief time frame. When Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, throughout his first presidential marketing campaign in 2016, referred to as climate change the foremost nationwide safety crisis, he was pilloried as not being severe about overseas coverage. Five years later, the White House could have a special envoy for climate with a seat at National Security Council conferences.
In 2019, Kerry co-founded a bipartisan initiative of world leaders and celebrities to fight the climate crisis referred to as World War Zero. In the wake of the Democratic major, he was a co-chair of the Biden-Sanders unity activity drive targeted on producing coverage suggestions on climate, together with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
The co-founder and government director of a number one progressive group on climate, Sunrise Movement, congratulated Kerry on his appointment and stated the creation of the position was an “encouraging sign.” Varshini Prakash, who served alongside Kerry on the unity activity drive, described him as “committed to engaging and listening to young voices — even when we might not always agree — and ensuring we have a seat at the table.”
But Prakash stated the one position was “not enough” and that Biden’s White House “must also include a domestic counterpart reporting directly to the President to lead an Office of Climate Mobilization.”
The President-elect is predicted to have a White House climate director engaged on home points who can be on equal footing with Kerry, a supply conversant in the matter confirmed to CNN.
Kerry served alongside Biden within the Senate for many years. He was first elected to the Senate to characterize Massachusetts in 1984 after serving as lieutenant governor of the state underneath Gov. Michael Dukakis.
In 2004, Kerry gained the Democratic nomination for president earlier than dropping the overall election to incumbent President George W. Bush. In 2009, when Biden turned vice chairman, Kerry took over his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was nominated to function secretary of state by Obama in 2012.
Kerry served within the Navy in Vietnam as a gunboat officer on the Mekong Delta and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.
CNN’s Arlette Saenz and Greg Krieg contributed to this report.
