Outgoing climate chief ‘not ready’ to give up on 1.5C goal. Plus, Nikki Haley wins her first Republican primary in Washington DC
Good morning.
Despite being the world’s largest oil and gas producer, the US continues to be a force for good in dealing with the climate emergency, John Kerry has argued.
In an interview with the Guardian, the outgoing US climate chief acknowledged that strong safeguards were needed to phase out oil and gas infrastructure before the country could permanently transition to renewables.
“I don’t agree that we are a force for ill,” he said. “We are living up to our obligations to transition … we are in transition, and as our renewables come online they [fossil fuels] are going out at a very rapid rate.”
Fracking and exploration have expanded in the world’s largest economy amid rising fossil fuel prices. The US has also been criticised for stalling on the “loss and damage” rescue funds that are vital for the world’s poorest countries, with wealthy countries pledging just $700m at Cop28 – less than 0.2% of what is needed.Kamala Harris to meet Israel war cabinet member after calling for ceasefire
Kamala Harris has demanded Israel do more to ease the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza amid rising pressure on the Biden administration to constrain its close ally.
In the sharpest criticism of Israel by a senior US government figure yet, the US vice-president said “the Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid” to Gaza, where conditions were “inhumane”.
