John Kerry roasted for hoping Putin would still fight climate change
Former Secretary of State John Kerry has taken a beating on social media for hoping Russian President Vladimir Putin would “stay on track” in the fight against climate change after he invaded Ukraine.
Speaking to the BBC in Arabic, Kerry worries that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would distract the world’s attention from the fight against climate change.
“Massive consequences on the shows of the war, but just as important, you’re going to lose people’s attention,” Kerry said. “You will definitely lose the attention of major countries because they will be diverted, and I think that could have a detrimental impact.”
Kerry added that he hopes Putin recognizes the damage climate change has inflicted on his own country and “stays on track” to combat it.
“So, you know, I hope President Putin would realize that in the northern part of his country they were living on – 66% of a nation that was on frozen land. Now it’s thaw and its infrastructure is in danger and the Russian people are in danger,” he said.
“And so I hope President Putin will help us stay on track in terms of what we need to do for the climate,” he concluded.
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry on BBC Arabic: Ukraine crisis could distract world’s attention from climate crisis while having massive impact on emissions #RussiaUkraineConflict #UkraineRussia #UkraineRussiaCrisis #Climate crisis @John Kerry @ClimateEnvoy pic.twitter.com/nsOC1iZeGm
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) February 24, 2022
Kerry wasn’t the only public figure to mention climate change in the wake of the invasion.
“It’s almost like TV programming. As soon as the #ChineseOlympics were finished, #Putin start war on Ukraine to keep our eyes on the communist world,” tweeted actress Bette Midler. “But the greatest story in the world is #Climate change. What good is more territory if you can’t breathe the air or drink the water? »
It’s almost like TV programming. As soon as the #ChineseOlympics were finished, #Putin starts the war against Ukraine to keep its eyes on the communist world. But the biggest story in the world is #Climate change. What good is more territory if you can’t breathe the air or drink the water?
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) February 24, 2022
Critics immediately slammed Kerry for mentioning climate change at a time when Ukraine is facing a full-scale invasion by an aggressive neighbor.
Religious climate change fanatic John Kerry fears Europe’s first major land war in 80 years & #PutinThe threat of nuclear consequences gets more attention than its climate program
—Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2022
Eye on the ball, John.
—Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) February 24, 2022
Suppose the only issue you care about is climate change.
You make an analysis that gives no weight to foreign policy considerations, no weight to economic growth, no weight to any other policy area whatsoever – you are a pure 100% climate voter.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 24, 2022
John Kerry now says the war in Ukraine will distract from the world’s ‘most important security issue’: climate change
You can’t make this up
—George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) February 24, 2022
.@John Kerry“I hope President Putin will help us with what we need to do to stay on track with the climate.”
What an idiot. https://t.co/VKHvN0VL6c
—Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) February 24, 2022
.@John Kerry is deceived and naive. Asking Putin to collaborate on climate change issues only gives the arsonist additional leverage over the firefighters. https://t.co/GNJPwrXooL
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) February 24, 2022
What was that Secretary of State guy like? https://t.co/wSvgJBJrYI
—Alana Goodman (@alanagoodman) February 24, 2022
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