Mr. Podesta is currently overseeing implementation of Mr. Biden's signature climate law, the Inflation Control Act. The law committed billions of dollars to accelerate the country's transition to wind, solar and other clean energy sources. Mr. Podesta also played a key role in brokering the 2015 Paris climate agreement as an advisor to President Barack Obama, and helped steer President Bill Clinton's environmental policy while serving as White House chief of staff.
The move comes at a critical time for Biden's climate change policies and global efforts to slow the planet's dangerous warming. The president is rushing to complete strong environmental regulations by the end of his current term, as former President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to roll back many of them. The outcome of the election could affect the credibility of the United States, historically the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, at the next United Nations climate change conference in Azerbaijan this fall.
“Secretary Kerry has returned the United States to leadership on climate change around the world,” Podesta said in a phone interview with the Post on Wednesday. “And we will definitely continue the momentum built through his efforts.”
Podesta plans to continue working on the domestic development of clean energy. This means he probably travels less frequently than Mr. Kelly, who maintained a fast-paced schedule, flying around the world to persuade other countries to curb global warming pollution. ing. Still, as the de facto climate envoy, Mr. Podesta will undoubtedly be responsible for resolving disputes and liaising with allies and major powers such as the European Union and China, as part of Mr. Kerry's role as the United States' top climate diplomat. will be asked to maintain.
Overseeing the tens of billions of dollars spent under the Inflation Control Act is likely a full-time job. But Podesta is confident he can balance his domestic responsibilities with his new international portfolio, adding that White House staff will support his work promoting clean energy across the United States. .
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said in a statement that Kerry has spent the past three years “tirelessly traveling the world” and “bringing America's climate leadership back from the brink and rallying nations around the world.” “We have taken historic action to combat climate change.” climate crisis. ”
“We must continue to address the gravity of this moment, and there is no one better to ensure that we do so than John Podesta,” Zients said, adding that Podesta will continue to “manage our most important policies.” “I will take the lead in promoting the implementation of this,” he added. Historical climate law. Having served the last three Democratic presidents for more than 30 years, he is an American statesman, passionate advocate for bold climate action, and a trusted voice of the president of the United States. He is a leader that the world will definitely know. ”
The timing of the move is fluid. Kelly has not set an exact retirement date, but it will likely be sometime between early March and late April.
Another complicating factor is that the 2022 Defense Policy Act includes a provision that would require the Senate to approve a special envoy reporting directly to the State Department. But White House lawyers believe that this provision does not apply to Mr. Podesta's new post. Kerry was not subject to this provision when he became climate change envoy.
Mr. Podesta will be based in the White House, but will work closely with the State Department's top deputy secretaries Sue Binias and Rick Duke. Biniaz served as the State Department's chief climate change attorney for nearly 30 years before being named deputy U.S. special envoy in 2021.
Mr. Podesta has been a longtime Democratic power broker, serving in three administrations. In 2016, while serving as Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign chair, Podesta released hacked emails to WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy organization founded by Julian Assange.
Jake Schmidt, senior strategic director for international climate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, noted Kerry's close relationships with many world leaders and said Podesta has “a big job to fill.” ”.
“Podesta is probably a little bit unknown in the international community,” Schmidt said. “But it will be very clear to the world that he speaks on behalf of multiple presidents and has President Biden's ear.”
Mr Kerry celebrated his 80th birthday last month at the United Nations climate change talks in Dubai, where he helped secure a landmark agreement at the summit. For the first time, the agreement calls for the phasing out of fossil fuels, which are the main cause of rising temperatures around the world.
The next UN climate summit is scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November.
