Article Summary –
John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy on climate, expressed frustration with the nation’s efforts to combat climate change, particularly the U.S.’s $17.5 million pledge for countries most affected by climate change. He believes that it is possible for global warming to remain below 1.5 degrees Celsius but emphasized that political will, including U.S. support for international climate finance, is crucial. Even though both the U.S. and China, the largest historical and current emitters of greenhouse gases respectively, need to significantly reduce their fossil fuel use, Kerry holds out hope for peak U.S. oil production and a surge in renewable power.
John Kerry Reflects on Climate Diplomacy and U.S Emissions
John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy on climate, had expressed frustration over international climate diplomacy and the U.S.’s role in it. During his two-year tenure, he questioned why the U.S., as a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, had committed a mere $17.5 million to a fund for countries heavily affected by climate change. Kerry attributed this to the U.S.’s “embarrassing” politics, which tend to discount issues related to climate change.
Kerry, whose term on the Foreign Relations Committee during the Kyoto Protocol discussions, expressed his disappointment over the U.S.’s failure to join. Emissions in the U.S have started to decrease, but the country recently had the most intensive year for oil production. Kerry’s experience in politics has shaped him into a realist while retaining his idealistic belief in the world’s capability to mitigate severe climate change effects.
Ideally, he envisions the world transitioning away from fossil fuels as stipulated in the 2015 Paris climate agreement and 2023’s Dubai accord. However, Kerry acknowledges that the Biden administration, although making significant progress in climate change mitigation, hasn’t met the measures necessary to avert the worst impacts of global warming.
Despite the daunting challenge, Kerry remains hopeful that the world can keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the limit scientists believe can prevent catastrophic climate change. However, the lack of political will, especially in wealthier countries, threatens this goal. Developing countries need financial support to transition to green energy, and without this backing, their emissions will continue to aggravate global warming.
Wealthy nations had collectively aimed to contribute $100 billion annually starting 2020 to finance green-energy transitions and climate adaptations in severely affected countries. Unfortunately, this goal remains unmet, and the OECD estimates that these vulnerable countries will need an additional $2.4 trillion annually for climate investments between 2026 to 2030. The big question now is where this funding will come from to bridge these gaps.
Despite the U.S.’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions, it isn’t cutting quickly enough to meet President Biden’s pledge to halve domestic emissions by 2030. Kerry appreciates Biden’s decision to pause new permits for controversial liquified-natural-gas export facilities but admits that it’s not enough. He insists that every major emitter needs to up their game since climate change is a cumulative problem.
The U.S. and China, being the two countries with the largest emission rates, play a significant role in deciding the fate of our climate. Depending on how fast they can transition away from fossil fuel use will determine when the continuous warming of the Earth’s atmosphere will stop. Kerry believes that the growth of renewable power in both countries may negate the need for new fossil fuels and that U.S. oil production may soon peak.
However, the existence of the special presidential envoy on climate position remains uncertain after Kerry. John Podesta will represent the U.S. at the next United Nations climate summit, but the position’s future will depend on the incoming President’s priorities and focus on climate change.
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