Carnot Prize recipient John Kerry on what political will, markets and diplomacy mean for the next phase of climate action.

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John Kerry has served in the U.S. Senate, as Secretary of State and, most recently, as President Biden’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. One constant over his more than four decades of public life has been his commitment to the environment and, perhaps most prominently, his efforts to protect Earth’s climate. He was present at the launch of the first global climate framework in Brazil in 1992, and his diplomatic efforts as Secretary of State were central to making the Paris Agreement a reality in 2015.

In recognition of his leadership, in September the Kleinman Center awarded Secretary Kerry the 2026 Carnot Prize for his contributions to energy policy. On the podcast, Kerry discusses the U.S. role in the global effort to combat climate change, including its on-again, off-again relationship with the Paris framework and where that relationship stands today. He also shares his views on the future role of the U.S. in climate diplomacy, and on why advances in technology and the economics of clean energy have not yet been matched by political and diplomatic progress.

Related Content:

2026 Carnot Prize Policy Lecture and Award Ceremony https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/events/2026-carnot-prize-policy-lecture-and-award-ceremony/

Breaking Down or Charging Up? Local Political Repercussions from Clean-Energy Manufacturing Investments https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/breaking-down-or-charging-up-local-political-repercussions-from-clean-energy-manufacturing-investments/

Policy Design Issues for Border Carbon Adjustments https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/policy-design-issues-for-border-carbon-adjustments/

Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu.

Carnot Prize recipient John Kerry on what political will, markets and diplomacy mean for the next phase of climate action.
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John Kerry has served in the U.S. Senate, as Secretary of State and, most recently, as President Biden&rsquo;s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. One constant over his more than four decades of public life has been his commitment to the environment and, perhaps most prominently, his efforts to protect Earth&rsquo;s climate. He was present at the launch of the first global climate framework in Brazil in 1992, and his diplomatic efforts as Secretary of State were central to making the Paris Agreement a reality in 2015.
In recognition of his leadership, in September the Kleinman Center awarded Secretary Kerry the 2026 Carnot Prize for his contributions to energy policy. On the podcast, Kerry discusses the U.S. role in the global effort to combat climate change, including its on-again, off-again relationship with the Paris framework and where that relationship stands today. He also shares his views on the future role of the U.S. in climate diplomacy, and on why advances in technology and the economics of clean energy have not yet been matched by political and diplomatic progress.
Related Content:
2026 Carnot Prize Policy Lecture and Award Ceremony <a href="https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/events/2026-carnot-prize-policy-lecture-and-award-ceremony/">https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/events/2026-carnot-prize-policy-lecture-and-award-ceremony/</a>
Breaking Down or Charging Up? Local Political Repercussions from Clean-Energy Manufacturing Investments&nbsp;<a href="https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/breaking-down-or-charging-up-local-political-repercussions-from-clean-energy-manufacturing-investments/">https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/breaking-down-or-charging-up-local-political-repercussions-from-clean-energy-manufacturing-investments/</a>
Policy Design Issues for Border Carbon Adjustments <a href="https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/policy-design-issues-for-border-carbon-adjustments/">https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/policy-design-issues-for-border-carbon-adjustments/</a>
Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu.

Energy Policy Now offers clear talk on the policy issues that define our relationship to energy and its impact on society and the environment. The series is produced by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania and hosted by energy journalist Andy Stone. Join Andy in conversation with leaders from industry, government, and academia as they shed light on today's pressing energy policy debates.

Energy Policy Now

Energy Policy Now offers clear talk on the policy issues that define our relationship to energy and its impact on society and the environment. The series is produced by <a href="https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/podcast/">the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy</a> at the University of Pennsylvania and hosted by energy journalist Andy Stone. Join Andy in conversation with leaders from industry, government, and academia as they shed light on today's pressing energy policy debates.

Carnot Prize recipient John Kerry on what political will, markets and diplomacy mean for the next phase of climate action.