Podesta will build on John Kerry’s trailblazing climate work

Ten years ago, more than a year before the Paris Agreement became a reality, two Americans played key roles in helping the United States pave the way for a historic global climate agreement. John Podesta, then White House Counselor, US commitment to reduce emissions by 2025 It could spark global action. Then-Secretary of State John Kerry was a tireless and tenacious negotiator, working with other countries to encourage them to take the necessary steps to reach the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

While working with Mr. Kelly as a senior advisor, I witnessed his absolute commitment to mobilizing action globally. He led the world in dramatically accelerating efforts and his actions to reduce methane emissions, the single most effective means of curbing short-term warming.

Late last year, when U.S.-China relations were at a historic low, Mr. Kerry secured an agreement with China. Accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and reduce power sector and methane emissions. At COP28 held in Dubai, led the charge Toward a global commitment to transition away from fossil fuels, triple the world’s renewable energy capacity and double the pace of energy efficiency improvements.

Now, as Mr. Podesta prepares to take on a new role as senior advisor to the president for international climate policy, the United States is once again a leader on climate issues.The world has reached the next stage Clean energy tipping pointAnd global momentum for action continues to grow.

This new leadership and momentum would not have been possible without real action here at home. Led by President Biden, the U.S. will make historic investments in electric vehicles, renewable energy, electric vehicles and more, building on major domestic policies supported by Congress through the Inflation Control Act and bipartisan infrastructure legislation. By doing so, we are working to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Other low carbon technologies.

At the White House, John Podesta has played a key role in ensuring these historic clean energy investments continue to grow and their benefits reach all Americans.

With the presidential election rapidly approaching, it will be important for Podesta to demonstrate to the international community the country’s sustainable efforts to combat climate change. But his global success depends on his international leadership in three key areas: engaging China, the world’s largest emitter, increasing global ambitions, and partnering with local governments and businesses. It becomes necessary.

First, the United States must continue on the path blazed by Mr. Kerry. That means fiercely competing for clean energy and carefully and clearly engaging with China to support enhanced action. The United States and China are the world’s two largest economies and greenhouse gas emitters, and both are rapidly restructuring their economies for the jobs and technology of the future.

There is no doubt that we will continue to compete in many technology areas, such as batteries and electric vehicles, but continued aggressive efforts will help other countries do more, faster. It will prompt you. Mr. Kerry, along with China’s Xie Zhenhua, succeeded in keeping the two countries jointly focused on the important common issue of solving climate change, despite rising geopolitical tensions between the two countries. With Zhenhua’s impending retirement, the United States and China need knowledge and action on deploying renewable energy, managing the power sector, reducing methane, and setting an overall pathway to demonstrate best practices for the rest of the world. We must continue to promote this.

Second, Podesta can build on its successes so far and increase its global ambitions over the next year. COP28 highlighted that the world remains off track in achieving climate goals. All countries have been asked to assess the actions they can take domestically to accelerate the transition to cleaner economies, and will soon report on their next targets for 2035. This includes aggressive action not only on energy and carbon emissions, but also on other greenhouse gases. Gases such as methane. The United States is an important leader in this process, both by setting an example at home and by encouraging other countries to do more through international processes. Our commitment over the next year to achieving our strong 2035 goals and supporting the actions of other countries will be the foundation of our global success.

Finally, governments cannot undertake this effort alone. The United States must support the efforts of cities, states, tribal governments, and businesses and integrate them into overall domestic and international strategies. The United States is a pioneer in implementing a society-wide climate change strategy that supports and strengthens leadership such as mayors and governors. Building on this success, the United States should continue to strengthen its support, investments, and partnerships with local actors, while encouraging other countries to engage society as a whole to reduce emissions.

John Kerry’s leadership is building innovations that can put the planet on track to meet global climate goals while delivering a vibrant economy, improved population health, and good jobs for the 21st century. supported a global climate strategy. As November approaches and our international partners question America’s climate leadership, John Podesta looks at concrete steps to support our shared global goals and tackle the growing problem of climate change. measures could be taken.

Nathan Hartman is the founding director of the University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability. He served as a senior advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry and deputy deputy director for energy and climate change at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.