The term "Climate Czar" has been used to informally describe Kerry's position. There had been one previous climate policy advisor in the White House, Carol Browner, who was director of the now-defunct White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy from 2009 to 2011.[3] In particular, the new position will be the first time that the NSC would have an official dedicated to climate change issues and to addressing the climate crisis as one affecting national security.[1]
On January 13, 2024, sources close to Kerry revealed that he would leave this position by the upcoming spring.[4][5]
On January 31, 2024, it was announced that John Podesta will succeed John Kerry as envoy.[6]
Foreign visits
April 2021: Envoy John Kerry became the first senior official of the
dump radioactive water of the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific.[8]
^ ab"President-Elect Biden Announces Key Members of Foreign Policy and National Security Team" (Press release). November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020. Former Secretary of State John Kerry will fight climate change full-time as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and will sit on the National Security Council. This marks the first time that the NSC would include an official dedicated to climate change, reflecting the president-elect's commitment to addressing climate change as an urgent national security issue.