UN chief, climate envoy Kerry to mark US return to Paris accord

Return to 2015 climate agreement comes as Biden administration seeks to re-engage in international organisations.

United States Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are to “celebrate” the US’s return to the Paris Agreement, the US state department has announced. The event on Friday will mark Washington’s official return to the 2015 accord, from which former President Donald Trump withdrew on his first day in office in January 2017. Guterres and several world leaders had previously hailed Biden’s initial move upon taking office on January 20 to rejoin the accord, saying he “looked forward to the leadership of the United States in accelerating global efforts towards net zero”, while adding “time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable”.