According to government sources, Annalena Bock, German Foreign Minister, has named Jennifer Morgan, chief of Greenpeace International in the role of her special envoy for international policy.
Germany is Europe’s largest economy and biggest CO2 emitter. Morgan will be joining a small group countries that have designated envoys for international climate change diplomacy. Olaf Scholz (German Chancellor), who was elected last December in coalition of the Greens and liberal Free Democrats, pledged to form a club of large economies that will take more ambitious steps to combat climate change. Germany is the Group of Seven richest country, and this year holds the presidency.
Morgan and Greenpeace did not immediately respond to requests for comment. John Kerry was appointed the United States’ first presidential special envoy for climate last year. Climate envoys are also available for China, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.
Jennifer Tollmann, a senior policy advisor at E3G in Berlin, stated that “This is a woman who was central to the negotiations for Paris Agreement.” “She is Scholz’s best resource to ensure that his vision of a climate club… truly brings partners on board.”
Morgan often joins activists in high profile campaigns. She was part of a group of 40 Greenpeace activists who used kayaks to block the entry to a Shell refinery. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/greenpeace-calls-eu-ban-fossil-fuel-ads-sponsorships-2021-10-04 Her appointment also coincides with Europe attempting to roll out international climate policies including the world’s first carbon border tariff, slapping CO2 emissions costs on polluting goods imported into the EU.
This has upset trading partners Russia, China, and it will likely take a lot more diplomatic work to convince nations that the levies are intended to fight climate change and not protectionism. Baerbock, a member of Germany’s ecologist Greens, will introduce Morgan before the media on Wednesday, after her appointment has been approved, according to government sources. This was confirmed by Reuters.
Under the new coalition, international climate policy has been moved to the Foreign Ministry. It was previously the Environment Ministry. Since 2016, Morgan has been the head of Greenpeace International. Her new role will focus on preparing for annual global climate conferences.
(This story is not edited by Devdiscourse staff.