Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is a member of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued a statement following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement that he will nominate John Kerry to be the incoming administration’s climate envoy:
“Our families and our economy are already experiencing climate chaos’ wrath—from apocalyptic wildfires ravaging the western United States, to more frequent heat waves and record-breaking storms battering our Gulf Coast communities. And things will only get worse if we don’t get our own house in order and work in partnership with the world to address this global challenge.
“John Kerry’s extensive diplomatic experience and demonstrated ability to work with our allies around the globe are invaluable assets that have prepared him to lead the decisive climate action our planet desperately needs. And Joe Biden’s decision to pick a senior leader for this position, and to place him within our national security leadership, shows that the President-elect takes climate chaos seriously as the national security threat it is. I look forward to working with Secretary Kerry to consider how we can most effectively rebuild an international coalition committed to slashing dangerous pollution and tackle the climate crisis head on.”
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