The White House announced on Wednesday that Senior Advisor John Podesta will now also oversee international climate policy, taking over the role from former special climate envoy John Kerry as the leading American representative on global climate matters.

In January, Kerry stated that he will resign from his role on climate issues in order to focus on supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. Podesta will assume Kerry’s duties, but not his official position, once he leaves in the coming spring, according to the White House.

Podesta has extensive experience with climate policy from previous Democratic administrations. He returned to the White House last year to implement a comprehensive U.S. climate program, which was revitalized with the $375 billion allocated in the 2022 climate law. Additionally, he headed the administration’s climate task force.

Kerry was appointed by the Biden administration with the purpose of addressing climate change on an international level. Kerry has held this role since Biden’s inauguration in 2021.

Kerry’s role did not need to be approved by the Senate, but a new legislation passed in 2022 mandates that special envoys who report to the secretary of state must obtain confirmation from the Senate.

To prevent a potential political dispute in the Senate, Podesta was appointed as a senior advisor for international climate policy rather than being named as a climate envoy.

According to the White House’s announcement on Wednesday, Podesta will remain responsible for managing government spending as part of the Climate Law, also known as the Inflation Reduction Act. He will also take on domestic climate issues and assume the international responsibilities previously held by Kerry. This position does not need to be approved by the Senate.

Jeff Zients, the Chief of Staff at the White House, stated that Kerry has been actively traveling around the globe to address the issue of climate change. Most notably, he attended a U.N. climate conference in Dubai towards the end of last year.

Zients stated that there is no one more capable than John Podesta to ensure that the U.S. rises to the challenge of this critical moment. He praised Podesta as a strong advocate for ambitious climate measures, having worked under three Democratic presidents and earning Biden’s confidence.

According to The Washington Post, Podesta’s appointment was initially announced.

Source: wral.com