Former Secretary of State John Kerry is the Biden administration’s special climate envoy — and he wants to make sure all eyes stay on him.
After Russian dictator Vladimir Putin launched the largest ground war in Europe in 70 years, Kerry was asked to weigh in.
Kerry told BBC Arabic that he hopes the Russian aggression doesn’t distract anyone from his mission.
Critics called the statement asinine amid the bloody war that, just hours ago, exploded in Eastern Europe.
“I’m very concerned,” Kerry said about the fighting. “I’m concerned about Ukraine because of the people of Ukraine. And because of the principles that are at risk, in terms of international law and trying to change boundaries of international law by force. I thought we lived in a world that said ‘no’ to that kind of activity.”
“I hope diplomacy will win,” he said. “But, the massive emissions consequences of the war — and equally importantly, you’re going to lose people’s focus.”
“You’re going to lose, certainly, big countries attention because they will be diverted. And I think it could have a damaging impact,” he said.
“I think, hopefully, President Putin would realize that in the Northern part of his country, they live [where land used to be frozen],” Kerry continued about climate changes impacts on Russia. “Now, it’s thawing and his infrastructure is at risk, and the people of Russia are at risk.”
“I hope President Putin will help us stay on track with respect for what we need to do on climate,” Kerry said about the war of aggression.
Kerry, a multimillionaire, regularly flies a private jet — considered the worst mode of transportation in terms of pollution output — around the world to give climate change talks, critics point out.
He also may have violated the Logan Act in 2017 and 2018 by allegedly negotiating on behalf of the United States government with Iran — despite being a private citizen with no authority at the time — after former President Donald Trump ended the controversial nuclear deal first signed under former President Barack Obama.
You can see Kerry’s tone-deaf statement here —
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on BBC Arabic: The Ukraine Crisis Could Distract the World from the Climate Crisis While Having Massive Emissions Consequences #RussiaUkraineConflict #UkraineRussie #UkraineRussiaCrisis #ClimateCrisis @JohnKerry @ClimateEnvoy pic.twitter.com/nsOC1iZeGm
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) February 24, 2022