John Kerry declares ‘World War Zero’ in response to climate crisis

John Kerry’s speech at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik this weekend was followed by loud and long lasting applause from the audience of Arctic stakeholders from around the globe.   

The fast-escalating climate crisis has never been worded in such dramatic tone as at this year’s assembly in the Icelandic capital.

Scientist after scientist entered the stage with facts and scenarios, which in sum painted a picture of a word heading towards Ragnarök, the old Nordic mythology’s destruction of the world. 

We are moving towards the tipping points of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Atlantic Ocean circulation. The permafrost in the circumpolar north is about to melt, likely to cause even greater releases of methane. While CO2 is described as having a warming effect akin to wrapping the planet in a sheet, methane released from the Arctic permafrost is more like wrapping the planet in a wool blanket.

John Kerry (75) gave a stern warning about demagoguery and denial of the climate crisis and the lack of political leadership. As Secretary of State under the Obama administration, Kerry was key to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, an accord current president Donald Trump is working hard to dismantle.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Reykjavik, Kerry was given the Arctic Circle’s award by former Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson for his leadership on climate change.

Launching the new global movement, the former Secretary of State says it will unite unlikely allies and bring together powerful influencers. One already on the team is actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

John Kerry said in his speech that climate change should be THE voting issue in the Untied States, a country that saw 19% turnout among young voters in the 2016 presidential election.

He also called on politicians to take the right energy decisions. There is no lack of solutions or technology, only failure of governance in the energy policy, Kerry said.

“No banks in America will finance a new coal-power plant today,” John Kerry said pointing to the fact that jobs of the future will come in renewable energy.

Climate deniers have declared war on science facts, and then we must declare war on those who oppose facts, Kerry explained.

“With you, World War Zero is winnable, a statement on the newly created portal of the movement reads and elaborates why people should sign up: “To win the future we all deserve, and triumph over today’s axis of opposition: delay, denial, and distortion.”

Will John Kerry then become for the elderly generation, what Greta Thunberg is for the youngsters? Likely not. According to information given to the Barents Observer, the former Secretary of State was flying in to Iceland in a private jet.

In the video below, you can see the entire speech by John Kerry.

You can help us report about climate changes.

…. we hope you enjoyed reading this article. Unlike many others, the Barents Observer has no paywall. We want to keep our journalism open to everyone, including to our Russian readers. The Barents Observer is a journalist-owned newspaper. It takes a lot of hard work and money to produce. But, we strongly believe our bilingual reporting makes a difference in the north. We therefore got a small favor to ask; make a contribution to our work.