John Kerry addressed the COP for the final time as US Secretary of State on Wednesday in a speech in Marrakech that stressed keeping the commitments that were made in Paris for continued collective action. He mentioned the transition of the U.S. government and emphasised that all sectors including the military should be preparing to address climate risks, noting that climate change is not a partisan issue: “The United States is right now, today, on our way to meeting all of the international targets that we’ve set, and because of the market decisions that are being made, I do not believe that that can or will be reversed.”
Secretary Kerry made clear the link with climate and security when he said, “speak with the military leaders who view climate change as a global security concern, as a threat multiplier…that exacerbates conflicts all over the world and (is) a threat to military readiness at their bases...” And when speaking on transitioning to clean energy and taking “dramatic steps necessary to reduce the carbon footprint of our civilization,” he quoted Winston Churchill in saying that it is important to not only do our best, but to do what is required.
Read the full text.
Watch the full speech: