John Kerry: Farewell to Climate ‘Czar’ as Fears Grow of Donald Trump’s Return

The U.S. politician, a key figure in environmental diplomacy in recent decades, is leaving the front line of the fight against global warming

It was already dark in Glasgow. And it was raining, of course. The 2021 climate summit, which was being held a year late due to the pandemic in the Scottish city, had entered the final stretch. On November 10, no major announcement was expected. But there was: The U.S. and China issued a joint statement pledging to accelerate the fight against climate change and limit emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is often left behind in the fight against global warming. The pact’s mullers were two old acquaintances: John Kerry, Joe Biden’s special envoy for climate, and Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation to the summit. These special envoys are known by the nickname of the climate czars and are two characters without whom climate diplomacy in recent decades in the world cannot be understood. The most striking thing about that joint statement was the timing, because it came in the midst of tension between the two superpowers over Taiwan and preceded by several public reproaches between the leaders of both countries. It was a surprise climate peace sewn back together by John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua, who for years have been something of a red phone that the two nations kept connected despite the many fronts of conflict they have open.

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