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Outgoing US climate envoy John Kerry says he will stay involved, hopes to maintain dialogue with Chinese counterpart
- Xie Zhenhua and Kerry forged an agreement in November that helped catalyse a consensus between nearly 200 countries to transition away from fossil fuels
- Kerry says he will redirect his attention to mobilising private capital to help the clean energy transition
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Bochen Hanin Washington
US special climate envoy John Kerry praised China’s climate commitments and emphasised the importance of personal relationships in diplomacy during his farewell tour of Washington.
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Kerry is leaving his cabinet-level position on Wednesday after three years, but said on Tuesday that he was not leaving the climate fight. Instead, he will remain “deeply involved” and redirect his attention to mobilising private capital to help the clean energy transition.
He also said he hoped he and his former Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua would continue to talk.
Kerry – a former secretary of state, senator and Democratic presidential nominee – made his mark in recent years by engaging Beijing on climate at a time of tense relations. The bilateral climate agreement reached at Sunnylands in November before the US and Chinese leaders’ summit helped catalyse the unprecedented “Dubai consensus” between nearly 200 countries to transition away from fossil fuels.
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US and China’s top climate officials hold talks as rival powers seek to ease tensions
US and China’s top climate officials hold talks as rival powers seek to ease tensions
According to Kerry, Xie, who retired this year at 74, will continue working through his alma mater, Tsinghua University. Kerry, 80, plans to stay involved through his own alma mater, Yale University, which he said would hopefully allow him to keep talking with Xie.
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