John Kerry Launches Coalition To Fight Climate Crisis: 'We Are Way Behind'

[appalachiablue]

Source: The Guardian

- Bipartisan bloc aims to convince people that rapid action is required to halt carbon emissions within 30 years.
Former US secretary of state and Democratic senator John Kerry has launched a new coalition of power-brokers, including top politicians, military leaders, and Hollywood celebrities, to fight for addressing the climate crisis.

This coalition - named World War Zero, in reference to the national security danger presented by global heating - aims to convince people that rapid mobilization is required to halt the increase in carbon emissions within 30 years. According to United Nations scientists, global carbon emissions must be halved by 2030 - and eliminated completely by 2050 - to restrict warming to comparatively safe levels.

The US and China are the top polluters in the world. While other countries are working to bolster the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate, Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from the pact.

The bipartisan bloc includes Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as moderate Republicans such as former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the New York Times reported. Celebrities such as Sting, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ashton Kutcher are also among the some 60 original members, the newspaper said. Participants might favor particular policy approaches to cutting emissions - such as a carbon dioxide tax or federal environmental programs - but the group is not touting any specific initiative...


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/01/john-kerry-coalition-climate-crisis

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In a "Meet the Press" NBC interview on Sunday morning host Chuck Todd asked Kerry whether the real issue was getting Trump to act on climate - rather than raising awareness.

"Well it's not just the president, Chuck. There are great efforts out there, many environmental groups, young people, particularly, but no country is getting the job done," Kerry said. "I mean, the simple reality is that we are way behind, way behind the 8-ball. Things are getting worse, not better. And so we have our unlikely allies coming together here."
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*World war Zero, website, https://worldwarzero.com/

- Huff Post. John Kerry Launches New Climate Coalition 'World War Zero' With Famous Friends. Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Leonardo DiCaprio are among the 60 founding members of the initiative, which aims to mobilize people to fight climate change.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-kerry-climate-coalition-world-war-zero_n_5de3a9bbe4b00149f730b4f3

[MBS]

1. Good for him!! n/t

[appalachiablue]

3. Surpised and delighted to see this. He's right, we're way behind,

behind the 8 ball. All out effort and then some now..

[karynnj]

6. Delighted, but not surprised

Kerry has been a strong environmental advocate since the 1970s! As Secretary of State, he was called the essential person in getting to the Paris Accord by one of his peers. The reason, it was his diplomacy that led to first the agreement with China and then the agreements with several other countries. It was his concept of having each nation make their commitment that made the Paris Accord possible. The Paris Accord was the first time when nearly every country in the world was officially committed to acting.

As if that were not enough, as Secretary of State he started the Our Oceans international conferences which are still going on. They have worked to protect more of the ocean - which is critical for fighting climate change. Along with Al Gore there is no US politician who has done more to fight climate change.

He has worked on climate change as his main issue since he left office.

[MBS]

8. THANKS!

You saved me some time. AppalachiaBlue, Karynnj is absolutely right. This has been the cause of Sec. Kerry's life. It has been a consistent thread of both his private life and his entire career. And he did a fabulous job on that front as Secretary of State, starting several serious, very innovative initiatives (including the ocean initiative that karynnj mentioned, including a leading biological oceanographer as Science Ambassador), also making the US embassies all over the world walk the walk on sustainable practices.

[appalachiablue]

11. Excuse me? Look, my comment about 'surprised' was in reference

to the roll out of a new, high profile coalition on climate change during the Thanksgiving weekend, on Dec. 1 going into the busy winter Christmas holiday season. That's all, and spare me the lecture.

I've posted quite a lot here today, comments in reference to others' post and 3 OP's that I've posted on CLIMATE CHANGE just here in LBN, Latest Breaking News.

[MBS]

13. Sorry!

I only saw this one post, didn’t have any context, jumped to conclusions. Perhaps I overreacted because I remember my frustration in 2004- at some point just before the November election, at some small gathering of environmentally committed Democrats, a Dean supporter expressed surprise at my comment that Kerry was superb on environmental issues.
And this was in Boston.
So my default reaction is to assume that Kerry’s environmental creds are unappreciated or underappreciated.

[appalachiablue]

16. OK, thanks for the reply

[appalachiablue]

12. #11 In reasearching news today, 4 articles to post here I didn't

elaborate on my remarks, nothing more.

[karynnj]

14. I did not mean you to take my comment that way.

Last edited Sun Dec 1, 2019, 11:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Both MBS and I were posters for over a decade in the John Kerry group before all the non candidate groups were archived. Thus the not surprised. Kerry has spoken without detail on working on this recently.

The info I added was to give some context to why his leading an effort like this is significant. I should also have added his unusual background of both politician and activist.

[appalachiablue]

15. Ok, thanks for the reply.

[BlueWI]

2. It's a step.

Needs to be a movement among all of us.

[MartyTheGreek]

4. Then lets get the Hemp going under the new farm bill. Paper, fabrics, rope...

-New Hemp Agra could get the unemployment rate down to 2%. Who knows.

-Hemp seed oil can be used as fuel.

-Where are we on planting trees? In yards, neighborhoods, cities, green rooftops?

-Every time I pay taxes, there should a check block for donate a dollar or more to the US Forest Service and associates for the reforesting of the burned areas.

-Where's my tax break for going solar or wind at home?

These are things Government can do while we restore democracy and science.

[TheFarseer]

10. I really want to see more tree planting

There’s lots of places I see in my city where we can plant trees but I feel like I see just as many trees being cut down as being planted

[bucolic_frolic]

5. The information superhighway was supposed to end commuting

Have you been on the roads at rush hour lately?

And we build more roads. And few few few drive to conserve gas. It's heavy on the pedal. I am standing still at 55mph.

[appalachiablue]

17. So much for bunk about the internet ending commutes; an article here

today focuses on SEATTLE as the No. 2 worst commuter city. Included in the top 10 are LA, DC, NY, etc.

Spend a lot of time commuting? Seattle ranks second among cities with worst commutes
https://www.democraticunderground.com/108211038

[ffr]

7. A leader leading.

Right on!

[Evolve Dammit]

9. It's a hoax Mr. Secretary. The entire GOP and "news" outlets tell us so. What to do with that BS??