John Kerry Says Americans Voted for Clean Energy and Climate Action in U.S. Midterms, Hailing a Political Shift

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has welcomed the results of America's midterm elections, arguing that voters delivered a clear message in favor of clean energy, climate action and better governance.

Speaking during the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye, Kerry portrayed the November 3 elections as a turning point in American politics and a development welcomed beyond the United States.

“This is a transition that the world wants,” he said, linking the election results to growing public demands for action on climate change.

“One week ago today in the United States, people made climate change and its exigencies a voting issue,” Kerry declared.

The former U.S. climate envoy also took a pointed swipe at the country's recent political direction.

“I'm proud to be here one week after we came to our senses, some of us,” he said.

Kerry argued that the message extended across different levels of government, with Americans supporting both the transition to affordable renewable energy and changes in political leadership.

“At every level of the ballot... Americans did vote for clean, affordable energy, and they also voted for clean governance.”

His remarks came as COP31 opened without an official U.S. government delegation. President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn from international climate negotiations and rolled back federal policies supporting renewable energy.

Despite Washington's absence, more than 120 American state and local leaders are participating in the Antalya summit, seeking to maintain international cooperation on climate action.