John Kerry, 68th U.S. Secretary of State
On February 15th, we had the honor of hosting John Kerry, 68th US Secretary of State and former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, for an insightful and eye-opening discussion on the intersection of climate, diplomacy, and global security.
The conversation explored the realities of navigating the complex relationship between politics and climate action. John Kerry shared his perspective on the challenges of reaching global consensus in today’s political environment, stating: “The only way you get consensus in the global community is by watering things down.” His words resonated deeply, highlighting how difficult it is to achieve concrete global commitments when national interests often come first. This candid admission made it clear that while climate action is urgent, political compromises are an unavoidable part of international negotiations.
John Kerry also provided valuable insights into the evolving role of the US in global climate leadership and the impact of its shifting policies.
With climate change increasingly recognized as a security crisis, the discussion underscored that addressing this challenge requires more than just activism. It demands bold leadership, innovative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to science-based policies.
A special thank you to John Kerry for his incredible insights, and to all those who joined us in this critical conversation. This event, in partnership with Munich Security Conference, was the perfect opportunity to reflect on where we stand and where we need to go in tackling one of the greatest challenges of our time. We would also like to say a big thank you to Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann for his warm welcome speech and to Oscar Perez for moderating the event!
Photo: MSC / Ellen Kallscheuer