President-elect Joe Biden named John Kerry (click here) to the newly created role of climate czar, a move that underscores the incoming administration’s commitment to an international-focused approach to the issue and recognition of its strategic importance.
Kerry, the former secretary of state, is a diplomatic heavyweight who helped piece together the landmark Paris climate agreement during the Obama administration and pushed hard for domestic climate policies as a US senator.
“I’ve asked him to return to government to get America back on track to address one of the most urgent national security threats we face—the climate crisis,” Biden said in a statement released on Monday. “This role is the first of its kind: the first cabinet-level climate position, and the first time climate change has had a seat at the table on the National Security Council.”
Kerry’s appointment as “special presidential envoy for climate” is among the first of six cabinet-level nominations that the Biden team announced on Monday, as it works to form a government in spite of President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the election. Unlike some cabinet roles, it will not require Senate confirmation, the New York Times reported....
There are going to be challenges that have resulted because of the very poor performance of the USA under the previous president that has turned loose the petroleum industry.
Australia's Barrier Reef as well as all other ocean reefs around the globe along similar latitudes are no longer endangered, but, destroyed by warmed ocean waters. Reefs are carbon sinks and the are failing,
There has been a severe deterioration of the permafrost releasing carbon to the troposphere as the melting occurs. Methane leaks around the world are out of control. There is a huge methane danger in Russia that needs to be closed. That means the hole may need to be bombed in order to close it.
India is taking a worrisome path in ambitions to be the largest oil exporter in the world. I don't know where all those ambitions lie, but, India is currently the third-largest consumer of oil. It is 24th in the world for oil reserves. I think the Prime Minister should concentrate on building his own electric car factories and putting the people of India to work in good-paying jobs. There are plenty of cars on the streets of India, it needs to address this ambition of exporting oil. They produce about a billion barrels a year while consuming 4 billion annually.
There are good things happening with American companies including GM which has returned to an agenda to protect the environment rather than returning to polluting directives by the previous administration.
I am looking forward to John Kerry working with the global community dedicated to protecting Earth for generations to come.
Protecting nature is very important for people globally. This is out of New Zealand, a climate accord member. It is demoralizing to citizens when the destruction of nature occurs for the purpose of mining. The climate accords are moving forward, but, the USA must take its place among those countries most responsible for climate protections rather than climate contamination.
Rangitira Developments (click here) wanted to mine in Buller District Council's conservation land at Te Kuha, near Westport.
The government stopped it after Forest & Bird argued the council needed to protect the land's biological and natural features.
In an appeal to the Supreme Court, Rangitira Developments said economic benefits should also be considered by the council.
The Supreme Court today dismissed the appeal.
Forest & Bird said the decision made reserves across the country safer from mining.
"This is absolutely wonderful news for nature, and particularly for the plants and animals threatened with extinction which live in this area," Forest & Bird chief executive Kevin Hague said....
