President Biden's climate change leader, John Kerry, issued a fiery reaction on Tuesday after being confronted by a reporter in Switzerland who asked him about carbon emissions.
“When you come here, what is the carbon footprint from these events every year? Do you think it's worth it? Will the farmers pay for your crimes?” Independent Avi Yemini, an Australian reporter for Rebel News, asked Kelly as he walked on the streets of Davos, Switzerland.
Mr. Kelly replied, “That's a stupid question.”
In response to a follow-up question about why carbon emissions are not important, he said: “No one has ever suggested that. Please don't make up stupid questions.”
Kerry — Visiting Davos to attend the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) summit. Environmental issues such as climate change He added that it had also done a “huge amount” to fight climate change and achieve its net zero ambitions. Security guards escorting Mr. Kelly between WEF events eventually stopped Yeminin from asking further questions.
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Yemini later said in a social media post that Kerry “found it difficult to justify the carbon footprint of attending the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.”
The conflict comes days after reports surfaced that Mr. Kerry would resign from his post as special presidential envoy for climate change at the State Department. On Tuesday, he confirmed the reports but said he was simply changing his efforts rather than retiring.
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Immediately after taking office in 2021, President Biden appoints Kerry His appointment to this position, a previously non-existent position, did not require Senate confirmation, and he was given a place in the President's cabinet and as a member of the National Security Council. The SPEC office is located within the Department of State, has an estimated annual budget of $13.9 million, and has an authorized staff of 45.
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will attend the UNFCCC Official Opening Ceremony at the United Nations COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai on November 30, 2023. (Mahmoud Khaled/COP28 via Getty Images)
Since taking office, Mr. Kerry has traveled the world, attending high-profile climate change summits and diplomatic engagements to advance the global transition from fossil fuels to green energy alternatives. In addition to attending multiple UN Global Warming Summits, he also attended multiple of his WEF conferences.
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But Mr Kelly has faced criticism over his carbon footprint, including his past use of his family's private jet.According to flight tracking data Obtained by Fox News Digital In July 2022, a Gulfstream GIV-SP jet owned by Kelly's family made a total of 48 flights lasting more than 60 hours, producing an estimated 715,886 pounds (325 tons) of carbon dioxide during the first 18 months of the Biden administration. was discharged. .
US climate czar John Kerry (left) is greeted by China's top diplomat Wang Yi before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 18, 2023. (Florence Lopool/Getty Images)
But a month after a Fox News Digital report highlighted the plane's extensive carbon footprint and after lawmakers accused Kelly of being an obvious hypocrite, the Gulfstream plane Sold to a hedge fund specializing in energy in New York City. State Department spokeswoman Whitney Smith confirmed the sale in a statement last year, saying Kelly was traveling for business in his current role.
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“John Kerry is an unelected bureaucrat making decisions that have a profound impact on the lives of Americans, but the vast majority of Americans pay more for their cars than for the cost of fuel to fly. You're going to be worried about the cost of gas to get to work in “I jetted to King Charles' coronation,'' Republican Florida Rep. Brian Mast previously told Fox News Digital.
“He needs to understand that,” added Mast, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee.
