'Now We Have Nine Years Left'
Kerry: 'Now We Have Nine Years Left.' The Clock Runs Out in 2030.
Days into the job, Biden's climate envoy told a UN summit the world had nine years left to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.
What was said
“Three years ago, scientists gave us a pretty stark warning. They said we have 12 years within which to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. And now we have nine years left.”
— John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (Climate Adaptation Summit) · said Jan 25, 2021 · due 2030 (nine years from January 2021)
His count, his words: nine years from January 2021. Verdict due in 2030.
The Story
Opening statement to the online Climate Adaptation Summit, January 25, 2021. He repeated it at Davos two days later and to the BBC on January 28: 'And now we have nine years left to try to do what science is telling us we need to do.'
The 'three years ago' refers to the 2018 '12 years' headlines (see the Guardian's 2018 entry). Nine years from January 2021 lands in 2030.
Receipts
- Opening Statement at Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 - US Department of State (January 25, 2021)accessed 2026-09-29
- Kerry on climate talks: 'I regret that my country has been absent' - The Hill (January 25, 2021)accessed 2026-09-29
- John Kerry: UK climate summit is world's 'last best chance' - BBC News (January 28, 2021)accessed 2026-09-29
As of Oct 9, 2026
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