John Kerry to step down after 3 years as Biden's top climate diplomat
NPR Online NewsJan 14
Climate Envoy Kerry Leaving Biden Administration
The Facts
John Kerry, the US special envoy for climate since early 2021, will be stepping down before spring, according to several published reports.
Unnamed officials told the media Kerry announced his resignation to Democratic Pres. Joe Biden on Wednesday, and Kerry’s staff was informed Saturday.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Kerry deserves kudos for all he accomplished in his role as climate envoy, with the COP28 agreement to get countries to begin "transitioning away" from fossil fuels both the most recent and most historic achievement of his stint. His efforts to get the US and China to put aside other grievances and cooperate on climate change initiatives have put the world on the right path in the face of a warming world. Kerry will be missed.
Republican narrative
The only thing better than Kerry leaving this post will be if the post is completely obliterated and never filled again. Kerry traveled the world promoting anti-energy policies that harmed the US economy. The envoy position was also created without a mechanism for oversight, so Kerry wasn't required to be transparent about his work and its impact. His departure is welcome news for American consumers and businesses.
Nerd narrative
There's an 80% chance that the US will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement before 2029, if a Republican wins the 2024 US presidential Election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
