President-elect Joe Biden is creating a new role on the National Security Council (NSC) devoted to combating climate change, a sign the incoming administration plans to make the issue one of its priorities.
On Monday, Biden’s transition team announced that former Secretary of State John Kerry would serve as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and will be a member of the NSC.
In a statement, the transition team said, “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.”
Kerry said in a tweet, “America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is.”
America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is. I'm proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President's Climate Envoy.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) November 23, 2020
“I’m proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President’s Climate Envoy,” he added.
Check out some of the reactions:
A superb choice by President-elect @JoeBiden of @JohnKerry as Climate Envoy. Kerry’s experience and passion are exactly what we need to restore American leadership abroad and repair the alliances that are crucial to solving the climate crisis.
— Al Gore (@algore) November 23, 2020
We need bold climate action now.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 23, 2020
And Joe Biden appointing John Kerry with his experience, knowledge, dedication, and credibility on fighting the climate crisis shows the incoming Biden administration’s commitment to act on climate from Day 1. https://t.co/C0lndxM2jO
Congratulations @JohnKerry. He is an excellent choice to be the Special Envoy for Climate.
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) November 23, 2020
By choosing a leader with such international esteem, President-Elect @JoeBiden has again demonstrated his deep commitment to follow science to save our planet and create millions of jobs.
.@SenWhitehouse lauds pick of John F. Kerry as special envoy on climate pic.twitter.com/a3EC1wA1z7
— Ian Donnis (@IanDon) November 23, 2020
There simply is no one better to coordinate a bold government-wide response to the defining crisis of our time – climate change – than John Kerry. These nominees reflect tremendous leadership for our foreign policy and national security when we need it. https://t.co/u9Mc6N1nq4
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) November 23, 2020
Extremely proud of my good friend and Former Sec. of State, @JohnKerry set to be named as the President's Climate Envoy!
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) November 23, 2020
His leadership is needed as we seek to tackle the climate crisis, re-establish America as a world leader on climate & work internationally to save the planet.
Former Sec. @JohnKerry is a deeply respected leader on the world stage who negotiated and signed the Paris Climate Agreement on behalf of the United States in 2016. He will work to address climate change full-time and to restore our country's leadership on climate issues. pic.twitter.com/DlYjF8WwOZ
— Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) November 23, 2020
Biden making one of his first appointments John Kerry as Climate Envoy is encouraging in terms of making climate a priority.
— Waleed Shahid 🪬 (@_waleedshahid) November 23, 2020
But America urgently needs a domestically-focused Climate Czar overseeing an Office of Climate Mobilization agreed to in the Biden-Sanders task forces. https://t.co/j1YKHBsEsZ
.@sunrisemvmt's director @VarshPrakash says @JohnKerry role in a Biden admin is an "encouraging sign…but it is not enough."
— Molly Nagle (@MollyNagle3) November 23, 2020
"The next White House must also include a domestic counterpart reporting directly to the President to lead an Office of Climate Mobilization." pic.twitter.com/H1uA5Sx2Dy
In 2019, Kerry launched World War Zero, a coalition of world and military leaders and Hollywood stars to highlight the national security threat posed by climate change.
He was also influential in crafting the 2015 Climate Paris Accord.
Earlier this year, Biden named Kerry to be a co-chair of his campaign’s climate change task force.