John Kerry to step down as US climate envoy 

John Kerry is expected to step down as the U.S. special climate envoy, a position he served in for three years.

Kerry is departing the Biden administration and plans to assist the president in his 2024 reelection bid, multiple outlets reported Saturday.  

Kerry, who served as Biden’s top climate diplomat since 2021, informed the president about his decision during a Wednesday meeting. While not planning to amass a formal role within the campaign, Kerry expects to publicize the progress the administration made in fighting climate change. 

As climate envoy, Kerry worked to cajole governments around the world to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. The former Secretary of State led the U.S. through three United Nations climate summits, where he reignited the country’s leadership on the world stage after Washington pulled out of the Paris climate agreement during former President Trump’s term. 

Despite informing the administration about his departure, Kerry, former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will still travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week and is scheduled to be in Germany for the Munich Security Conference in February. 

Kerry, the former Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, had an outsize role in restarting climate negotiations between the U.S. and China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, and forged a close connection with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua. 

It is still unclear who will replace Kerry. His deputies could have a hard time getting a confirmation through the Senate, which could turn Republican, after the next election cycle. 

The Hill has reached out to the White House and Kerry’s team for comment. Axios first reported the news about Kerry’s departure.