US climate envoy John Kerry, who plays a key role in the US administration in the fight against climate change, will resign in order to contribute to President Biden’s re-election campaign, media reported on Saturday .
The resignation of Mr. Kerry, 80, is expected to take effect by spring, according to the New York Times.
Since 2021, the former Secretary of State and Senator has liaised with other countries to secure commitments on climate change, including at the most recent UN climate summit, COP28, which took place is held in Dubai.
Mr. Kerry intends to take part in Joe Biden’s campaign by publicizing the president’s work in the fight against global warming, according to several American media outlets citing officials familiar with the matter.
Mr. Kerry informed Mr. Biden of his intention to leave on Wednesday, and his team learned of his decision on Saturday, these media reported.
The former secretary of state led the US delegation to three UN climate summits, but also worked effectively with China, despite complicated diplomatic relations.
These two countries alone are responsible for some 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In a rare show of unity, the United States and China sealed a historic, if watered-down, deal at the COP28 climate summit in December to begin moving away from oil, gas and coal, the main culprits. of the global climate crisis.
Mr. Kerry had hosted his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua a month earlier in California, where the two countries agreed on the broad outlines of climate action which partly served as the basis for the Dubai agreement involving nearly 200 countries.
News of Mr Kerry’s resignation comes a day after Mr Xie’s retirement announcement.