As newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry serves as a delegate on the Arctic Council, the only diplomatic forum dedicated entirely to the Arctic region. Secretary Kerry will meet with representatives from seven other Arctic states to discuss the environmental and biological changes to the area.
Greenpeace has worked hard to encourage Secretary Kerry to be a champion for the Arctic as the U.S. delegate. We even sent a cheerleading squad and a marching band to our meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC last week!
The Arctic faces imminent threats from climate change, oil drilling and industrial fishing, but Secretary Kerry has the power to protect it from all three. Based upon his Earth Day speech, Secretary Kerry plants to work hard on climate change and protecting our beautiful planet. It’s our job to make sure he doesn’t forget the words he spoke.
The science is screaming at all of us and demands action. From the far reaches of Antarcticas Ross Sea to tropical wetlands in Southeast Asia, we have a responsibility to safeguard andsustainably manage our planets natural resources, and the United States remains firm in its commitment to addressing global environmental challenges.
-Secretary John Kerry, Earth Day 2013
Check back for live updates from the Arctic Council meeting next week. In the meantime, you can call the State Department directly and request Arctic protection.
