MFA Kofod hosts important diplomatic meeting with US Climate Envoy John Kerry

Friday 22 January, Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod hosted a virtual meeting with US President Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, EU foreign ministers, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, and First Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermanns.

“With the inauguration ceremony in Washington DC fresh in our memories, Denmark is already hosting an important diplomatic meeting on the climate with President Biden’s climate envoy. This illustrates just how active and esteemed Danish climate diplomacy is,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod.

“It was very positive to sit face to face with John Kerry knowing that the US is re-entering the climate fight. I am looking very much forward to our future cooperation. Without the US as an active participant, we will never reach our climate goals from the Paris Agreement or the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have been missing the US over the past four years. I hope that together we can work for a socially just green transition. Not least, we must actively take measures for a global phase-out of coal,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Kofod.

On the day of his inauguration, President Joe Biden signed an executive order recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement, thus marking the return of a key participant in global climate efforts. Together with the US, the EU and Denmark will contribute to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement. These efforts will include engaging in active climate diplomacy with the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

In December 2020, EU heads of state and government resolved to raise the joint EU climate goal to a reduction of at least 55% by 2030.

“The EU must play a more active role in international climate diplomacy. We must be ambitious when it comes to phasing out coal and inspiring others. This inspiration can be found in Denmark, where places such as the Port of Esbjerg and Lindø Shipyard have transitioned from old industrial areas to the creation of new green jobs,” says Jeppe Kofod.

For further information, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Press Desk: pressevagten@um.dk.