The experienced Democratic strategist has a rich background in climate politics, both domestically and internationally. Podesta will represent the United States at the COP29 talks in Baku, Azerbaijan later this year.

The international discussions will take place after the U.S. election in November. This creates uncertainty for the U.S. in regards to its stance, in the event that President Joe Biden were to lose to Republican frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. Trump had previously withdrawn the nation from the 2015 Paris climate agreement during his time in the White House.

At the recent COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates, participating countries made a historic decision to shift away from using fossil fuels, which have contributed to a 1.2 degree Celsius increase in global temperatures since the start of industrialization. While governments have committed to limiting this warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, they are not making enough progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to achieve this goal.

In a statement, Kerry commended Podesta as a “dedicated supporter and champion” of climate issues, highlighting his important contributions to the Obama administration’s approach to addressing climate change, such as his involvement in discussions with China. Even after leaving his government position, Podesta continued to be involved in confidential international conversations about climate, according to Kerry.

He stated that the individual would contribute valuable skills to the upcoming task, particularly in regards to the practical obstacles of executing COP28.

As chief climate diplomat for the U.S., Podesta will face pressure from the international community over U.S. fossil fuel development. The U.S. is the world’s top oil and gas producer and largest historical contributor to climate change.

The recent action by the Biden administration halted the issuance of new licenses for exporting liquefied natural gas in order to evaluate its effects on climate change, the economy, and national security. Climate activists commended the pause, but Republicans have promised to challenge the ruling.

Jean Su, the director of the energy justice program at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the recent halt on gas exports has positioned Podesta to take charge of the necessary phaseout of fossil fuels and expansion of clean energy. As the previous climate envoy, John Kerry agreed to a global shift away from fossil fuels and advocated for a more ambitious scale and timeline. Now, Podesta must step up and continue this effort by leading the U.S. in a rapid push to end the expansion of oil and gas, before it’s too late to prevent catastrophic climate events.

Jeff Zients, the White House Chief of Staff, stated that Podesta will continue to advance the progress made by Kerry in restoring the United States’ global reputation on climate change, following the previous administration’s dismissal of international efforts.

“We must continue to recognize the significance of this moment, and there is no one more capable than John Podesta to ensure that we do,” stated the speaker. “John has been, and will continue to be, leading the way in implementing the most monumental climate legislation in existence.”

The decision was also met with acclaim from various other environmental organizations.

Manish Bapna, CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated that this individual is highly esteemed in the public sector in Washington and has held senior positions in government for 30 years. They have played a crucial role in leading the most effective climate initiatives in the United States and have provided input in numerous international climate discussions. With their extensive knowledge of the individuals, political landscape, and necessary actions, they are well-equipped to address the urgent issue of our era.

John Podesta played a crucial role in facilitating communication between the Obama administration and China during the negotiation of a surprising joint statement in 2014. This statement marked the first time China agreed to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions, which helped pave the way for the Paris climate agreement the following year.

China, the leading emitter in the world, is introducing a new climate envoy, Liu Zhenmin, after Xie Zhenhua, a long-standing counterpart to Kerry, retired.earlier this month.

Podesta has served as a mediator for governments, such as the European Union, who are concerned about the IRA’s impact on their ability to advance clean energy technology.