John Kerry is on track, with no significant US Senate opposition on the horizon, to become the next US Secretary of State.  President Obama formally announced his nomination yesterday at the White House.  In his remarks, Obama said:  “…we’ve got to harness all elements of American power and ensure that they’re working together — diplomatic and development, economic and political, military and intelligence…”  Of course, those tools need to be brought to bear on the pressing issues of climate change and sustainability.  The Department of State has an awful lot in its portfolio and increasingly that has included taking these matters of the health of the planet and its people much more seriously than ever before. Continue reading →