STATEMENT: CAP’s Patrick Gaspard Welcomes News That John Podesta Will Be Named Top U.S. Climate Diplomat

Washington, D.C. — The White House confirmed today that John Podesta will take on the responsibilities of outgoing U.S. Special Presidential Climate Envoy John Kerry this spring. Podesta, founder of the Center for American Progress, is currently senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation. In response, CAP President and CEO Patrick Gaspard issued the following statement:

There is no one better than John to translate the great successes of U.S. action on climate change into global action. He has worked tirelessly to implement the president’s climate law and invest in building a clean energy economy. U.S. climate leadership on the world stage is in good hands with John, continuing the great strides that John Kerry has made. There is a lot of work ahead—securing commitments from other countries to cut pollution, ensuring the global transition to clean energy, and supporting the efforts of the Global South to join the clean energy economy. John’s work ethic and passion on these issues are unparalleled. I congratulate him and wish him well.

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