Kerry Acknowledges Need for Nuclear Power as Climate Diplomacy Dominates New York City

Kerry’s pro-nuclear remarks come as climate-related diplomacy and other climate-themed events overtake New York City.

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry arrives to appear on the BBC's "Sunday Morning" political television show on July 9, 2023. Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

While addressing an Atlantic Council meeting on nuclear energy, U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry made it clear he doesn’t think wind and solar alone will be sufficient to meet global energy needs while achieving policy plans to rapidly scale back the use of hydrocarbons in the name of addressing climate change risks as outlined by the United Nations.

“You will have to have some component of nuclear—yet to be determined how big or where it'll go. That’s going to be a market-based reaction,” said Mr. Kerry, who served as a Democratic senator from Massachusetts before serving as Secretary of State under former President Barack Obama.