President-elect Joe Biden announced today the appointment of Former Secretary of State John Kerry as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. The announcement was made as part of the Biden-Harris transition team’s unveiling of the key members of the incoming administration’s foreign policy and national security team. Kerry’s appointment marks the first time that the NSC will include an official dedicated to climate change.

Kerry brings strong credentials to his new role, both as a diplomat and as a leader on fighting climate change. He served as Secretary of State for the Obama administration between 2013-2017. While serving in that role, Kerry signed the Paris Climate Agreement on behalf of the United States in 2015. In 2019, Kerry co-founded the bipartisan coalition World War Zero, aiming to unite scientists, business leaders, celebrities and political leaders in the climate fight.

President-elect Biden has made it clear that climate change will be one of the incoming administration’s key priorities. Biden has vowed to return the US to the Paris Agreement, following President Trump’s withdrawal from the accord.  

Following the announcement of his appointment, Kerry continued this sentiment on Twitter, saying, “the work we began with the Paris Agreement is far from done. I’m returning to government to get America back on track to address the biggest challenge of this generation and those that will follow. The climate crisis demands nothing less than all hands on deck.”