John Kerry (left) greeted by Joe Biden at a campaign event in Iowa in February
(Picture: AP)John Kerry has vowed to help “get America back on track” after the former secretary of state was picked as Joe Biden’s special climate envoy.
“America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is,” he tweeted.
As a key part of President's Barack Obama's team, Mr Kerry helped negotiate the Paris climate accord struck by world powers in 2015.
Donald Trump pulled America out of the landmark agreement, which aims to keep the global temperature increase this century to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels.
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. pic.twitter.com/xxfakodQ6d
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) November 23, 2020
However Mr Biden has vowed to re-enter the deal and his transition team on Monday made it clear the so-called "climate tsar" would be given a key role in the new administration.
"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," Mr Kerry wrote after Mr Biden named the long-time senator for the position.
During the election race, Mr Biden promised a $2 trillion plan to overhaul the nation's transportation and power sectors and buildings to curb fossil fuel emissions.
His commitment to a "New Green Deal" follows the rise in the Democratic party of young progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have succeeded in pushing climate change toward the front of the US political agenda.
Varshini Prakash, executive director of the Sunrise Movement climate group, called the appointment a "very good move," saying Mr Kerry combined a long track record on climate issues with a commitment "to engaging and listening to young voices."
