John Kerry reflects on time as top US climate negotiator and 'major breakthrough' in climate talks
John Kerry feels he’s going out on a high note as he retires from leading U.S. efforts in international negotiations to confront ever-worsening climate change
By SETH BORENSTEIN
Published - Mar 04, 2024, 07:50 AM ET
Last Updated - Mar 04, 2024, 07:50 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Time was running out and U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry knew it.
The United Nations sponsored conference official end date, a day after Kerry’s 80th birthday, was fast approaching. What’s more, Kerry’s Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, who helped craft past deals with him, announced that he was retiring. Opportunity could be slipping away at the summit known as COP28, being held in Dubai.
“It made me bear down and get to a lot more meetings, one-on-one and otherwise, and frankly dragooned a few other people into the effort to persuade and make the difference,” Kerry recalled during a recent interview with The Associated Press, given ahead of his retirement this week.
