Shortly after being declared the presumptive winner of the 2020 presidential election, President-elect Joe Biden released the incoming Administration’s four top priorities on his transition website, which included addressing climate change. Yesterday, the Biden transition team named former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, a newly established position, that would have a seat on Biden’s National Security Council (NSC). This is the first time that the NSC will include an official dedicated to climate issues.
Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement.
“It is past time that our nation resumes its position as a world leader in addressing the climate crisis. I am so pleased that President-elect Biden has elevated this issue to be a top priority for his Administration, and that he has already begun making good on his pledge to address the climate emergency. The President-elect’s commitment to treating climate change like the existential crisis that it is, is just one example of how he will help America build back better. Engaging on climate issues at such a high level will have numerous positive benefits for our economy, our national security, and our public health. I look forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration on addressing one of the most critical challenges of our lifetime.”