John Kerry jets off to China to talk climate again amid questions over plane use

Particular Local weather Envoy John Kerry arrived in China Sunday forward of deliberate “in-depth” talks on local weather change with the nation’s communist authorities.

“We’d like real cooperation,” Kerry mentioned forward of the journey final week, in response to the New York Instances. “China and the US are the 2 largest economies on this planet and we’re additionally the 2 largest emitters. It’s clear that now we have a particular duty to search out frequent floor.”

Kerry’s journey comes after he was closely criticized for his use of a personal jet throughout a House Foreign Affairs Committee listening to final week, the place some Republican lawmakers accused the local weather envoy of hypocrisy.

A State Division spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital that Kerry “flew commercially to Beijing” on a “frequent industrial air flight” however his workplace has but to answer follow-up questions on specifics, together with any potential airline.

JOHN KERRY SCORCHED FOR MISLEADING ON PRIVATE JET USE: ‘DEMOCRATS’ STANDARD OF HYPOCRISY’

John Kerry, particular presidential envoy for local weather, testifies through the Home Overseas Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability listening to. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)

Kerry arrived at some point forward of the talks with Chinese language officers, that are anticipated to incorporate conferences with China’s lead local weather negotiator, Xie Zhenhua. Will probably be Kerry’s second journey to China in his particular envoy position, coming after personal talks with Chinese language counterparts in April 2021 following a regional climate summit.

“This isn’t about China. This isn’t a counter to China,” Kerry mentioned after these conferences. “That is about China, the US, India, Russia… a bunch of nations which are emitting a fairly sizable quantity.”

On Monday, Kerry praised the “unimaginable job” China has completed on renewable vitality, in response to a report from the Washington Submit, although he urged the nation to cease constructing new coal-fired energy crops.

China is the world’s largest polluter, emitting over 10,065 million tons of CO2 in 2019, in response to an evaluation by Local weather Commerce. That quantity is almost double the US, which got here in second at 5,416 million tons of CO2.

Kerry, in the meantime, has confronted scrutiny of his personal carbon footprint, with Republican lawmakers taking intention at his use of personal jets in final week’s listening to.

JOHN KERRY’S FAMILY PRIVATE JET EMITTED OVER 300 METRIC TONS OF CARBON SINCE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE

“Backside line is that the local weather czar is displaying a local weather hypocrisy when him and his household left a 325-metric-ton carbon footprint from their personal jet,” Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., informed Fox Information Digital after the listening to. “In the meantime, Kerry expects the common American to be carbon-neutral and to purchase issues like unreliable EVs they’ll’t afford.”

Kerry defended himself through the listening to, arguing his use of a personal jet is “one of the vital outrageously persistent lies that I hear” and that he by no means “personally” owned a jet.

John Kerry, U.S. particular presidential envoy for local weather (Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

“Secretary Kerry has by no means owned a personal jet, flies commercially, and is actively engaged on initiatives just like the First Movers Coalition, which has helped main airways like Delta and United of their dedication to spend money on sustainable aviation fuels that scale back greenhouse air pollution whereas permitting People to proceed to take pleasure in journey,” a Kerry spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital after the listening to.

JOHN KERRY HEADED TO CHINA FOR CLIMATE TALKS AMID GOP INVESTIGATION

The hearings weren’t the primary time Kerry’s personal jet use has come below scrutiny, with a Fox Information evaluation of federal knowledge final yr displaying he and his household emitted over 300 metric tons of carbon dioxide because the Biden administration started.

Since being appointed local weather envoy by President Biden, Kerry has referred to as on the U.S. to deal with “the local weather disaster because the pressing nationwide safety risk it’s,” arguing for a transition away from fossil fuels and a push towards inexperienced vitality sources.

However critics have identified that Kerry does not appear to be keen to make related sacrifices, most notably by his use of personal jets.

Since being appointed local weather envoy by President Biden, Kerry has referred to as on the U.S. to deal with “the local weather disaster because the pressing nationwide safety risk it’s.” (F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“This is the problem,” Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla, informed Kerry throughout final week’s listening to. “This is not some type of partisan gotcha. After we are asking People to make severe sacrifices, as we transition, for the frequent good and your loved ones and/or your self are flying round on personal jets, that smacks of hypocrisy. It really hurts your trigger.”