As the clock ticked towards zero hours at the critical international climate talks in December, U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry was hard at work, determined to to not allow a pivotal moment to slip through the world's hands. "It made me bear down and get to a lot more meetings, one-on-one and otherwise, and frankly dragooned a few other people into the effort to persuade and make the difference," Kerry said, as per The Seattle Times.
The stakes were high as negotiations came close to a standstill with no consensus on phasing out oil, gas, and coal—at the heart of the global warming crisis. The pressure was on, especially as Kerry was about to commemorate his 80th birthday and step back from his role. Yet, it was then that the energy minister of Saudi Arabia, representing a nation traditionally resistant to fossil fuel restrictions, gave his nod towards "transitioning away" from major carbon sources. Kerry cautiously held his breath, aware of past last-minute breakdowns, telling himself, "Don't get excited yet," according to KTVZ.
This time, however, the victory was secured. An agreement was reached that marked a substantial achievement in the decades-long history of the United Nations climate efforts, characterizing the summit as a monumental success. In a statement obtained by KEYT, Kerry reflects on the agreement, which called for nations to steer away from fossil fuels and increase the use of renewable resources like wind and solar.
.jpg){kind=link}