Statement on President-Elect Biden Naming John Kerry as Climate Envoy

Washington, D.C. — Today, Lori Lodes, executive director of Climate Power 2020, issued the following statement on Joe Biden’s decision to appoint former Secretary of State John Kerry as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate:

“President-elect Joe Biden’s appointment of former Secretary of State John Kerry as a climate envoy is the strongest indication yet of Biden’s ambition to address the climate crisis. Biden ran —and won— on bold, immediate climate action, and Kerry’s appointment to this new critical national security role shows that Biden intends to govern on climate as well. As climate envoy, Kerry will restore the U.S. as a global climate leader, repair the damage caused by four years of Trump’s science denial, and implement bold global solutions to address the climate crisis.”

Kerry’s appointment as Climate Envoy is historic, marking the first time a National Security Council official is dedicated to combating climate change. The focus on the national security implications of climate change shows Biden’s deep understanding of the wide-reaching effects of the climate crisis.

Kerry is a long-time advocate for climate action and he has said the climate crisis is one of the direst security issues of our time. As Secretary of State, Kerry was a key architect of the Paris Agreement, which Biden has committed to rejoining on Day One of his presidency. Since leaving the State Department, Kerry has committed himself to fight climate change through his organization World War Zero and as an advisory board member to Climate Power 2020.