John Podesta to become new presidential envoy for climate, will still keep his role as senior White House adviser



Infamous Clinton acolyte John Podesta has been picked by President Biden to fill the role of the international climate change representative for White House.

According to reports, not only will Podesta take on the position of presidential envoy for climate — formerly held by John Kerry — he will also remain as the senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation.

"We need to keep meeting the gravity of this moment, and there is no one better than John Podesta to make sure we do," White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients told NBC News. "John has — and will continue to be — at the helm of driving the implementation of the most significant climate law in history."

Podesta was chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, a counselor to President Obama, and of course he was also the chairman of Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 presidential campaign.

The 75-year-old became a household name when his emails were leaked during the election cycle. Emails revealed troubling realities such as Hillary Clinton admitting she had "both a public and a private position" on policies and that she was given advance knowledge of debate questions by an employee at CNN.

Podesta joined the U.S. Delegation to the U.N. Climate Change Conference in both 2022 and 2023 as the White House's senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation.

The new climate policy representative does not often give public statements and even has an X (Twitter at the time) boycott, not having posted on the platform since August 2022. His last post was, however, to celebrate investments in "clean energy" and "climate."

"Breaking my Twitter Boycott to celebrate Senate passage of IRA and its massive investments in clean energy and climate," the politician wrote.

Podesta replaces former Vice President Kerry, who was named by Biden in 2020 to the newly invented role.

"America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is," Kerry said at the time.

Kerry has "tirelessly trekked around the world" to fight the climate crisis, Chief of Staff Zients said, according to the Guardian. The 80-year-old is expected to shift his support toward President Biden's 2024 re-election campaign.

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Biden Picks Non-Scientist John Kerry As Climate Envoy

John Kerry has no scientific background qualifying him as an authoritative voice on the matter of climate change or policy.

Biden names John Kerry to be 'climate envoy' for National Security Council. Environmental groups cheer.



Former Vice President Joe Biden on Monday designated former Secretary of State John Kerry to be the "climate envoy" in a Biden-Harris administration. Biden's transition team pledged to elevate the position to the National Security Council, a move that pleased climate activists and progressive groups.

Kerry will be Biden's Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, guiding the federal government's climate policies. The Biden campaign introduced a $2 trillion climate plan that called for reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Presumably, Kerry will be responsible for coordinating multiple federal agencies to implement policies to achieve that goal. His role will not require confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

"This marks the first time that the NSC will include an official dedicated to climate change, reflecting the president-elect's commitment to addressing climate change as an urgent national security issue," the Biden transition team said in a statement.

"America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is," Kerry tweeted after the announcement. "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."

Biden's transition team touted Kerry's foreign policy experience in a news release, noting his influential role in crafting the Paris climate accord.

"Secretary Kerry elevated environmental challenges as diplomatic priorities, from oceans to hydrofluorocarbons. He was a key architect of the Paris Climate Accord, and signed the historic agreement to reduce carbon emissions with his granddaughter on his lap," Biden's team said.

Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day as president, reversing one of President Donald Trump's most significant policy accomplishments.

Progressive activists praised the announcement as evidence of Biden's seriousness when it comes to climate issues.

"This is that signal we have been looking for," Nat Keohane, senior vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, told the Washington Examiner. "It'd be hard to think of a better person for this role or a clearer signal that the U.S. will reengage on climate globally and make it a central aspect of all parts of foreign policy and national security policy. Kerry brings weight, gravitas, and experience."

"Excellent news," tweeted Fred Krupp, the president of the Environmental Defense Fund. "[John Kerry] is one of the world's most effective climate champions, both in the U.S. and abroad. He is the ideal person to restore U.S. global climate leadership."

Environmental activist group Greenpeace praised Kerry's appointment as a "good first step" and a "positive sign for Biden's intention to integrate climate leadership into every facet of the administration."

The Sunrise Movement, another activist group, called Kerry's appointment an "encouraging sign."

In statements, Greenpeace calls John Kerry’s appointment as special Presidential Envoy on Climate a “good first ste… https://t.co/BQHjmviaLN
— Gary Grumbach (@Gary Grumbach)1606158396.0

Kerry's appointment was announced alongside several other nominees and appointees for key national security roles in a Biden-Harris administration, including former Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken as the nominee to be the next secretary of state.