President Joe Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, said during a Tuesday speech that the world cannot stop the “climate crisis” without “dramatically” reducing investment in fossil fuels, contradicting the president’s previous call for increased investment in the oil and gas industry.
Biden told oil and gas producers to use their “record profits” to increase production and refining capacity during a speech he gave on Oct. 19. Kerry said that the world cannot hit its emissions reduction targets unless private companies, governments and international banks divest from oil and gas, claiming that for every $1 that is invested in green energy, $1.10 is invested in fossil fuels. (RELATED: ‘Disingenuous’: Biden Says He Hasn’t Stopped Oil Production. Here’s The Reality)
“The math and science unequivocally make clear, we just can’t hit our [emissions] targets unless we dramatically change that ratio,” Kerry stated.
Kerry said that some private financial firms were beginning to backslide on the “net-zero” emissions, commitments they made at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference and urged firms to ramp up their efforts to invest in green energy instead of fossil fuels. However, Biden told oil companies to increase production in order to bring down high gas prices and energy costs for Americans, a move that would require increased investment in the industry.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 19: U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, delivers remarks on energy during an event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House October 19, 2022 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“You’re sitting on record profits … and we’re giving you more certainty, so you can act now to increase oil production now,” Biden said after announcing his administration’s plan to buy back oil from companies to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The White House climate envoy said that financial institutions need to do “even more” to meet emissions targets and prevent future “climate disasters.” Kerry also stated that Multilateral Development Banks like the World Bank were needed to fund green energy initiatives all over the globe.
“We need a greater synergy between public and private finance … it’s gotta happen,” he said.
The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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