>> BRAUDE: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" FORMER MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR AND U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE-- NOW SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE-- JOHN KERRY JOINS ME, ON THE HEELS OF THE LATEST U.N. CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, BETTER KNOWN AS COP27, WHICH WAS HELD LAST MONTH IN EGYPT.

WHEN THE SECRETARY LAST JOINED US, JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, MID-COP26, HE WAS HOPEFUL.

>> WE'RE MAKING ACTUALLY REMARKABLE PROGRESS.

COUNTRIES ARE AT THE TABLE THAT HAVE IGNORED THIS FOR SOME TIME.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT.

>> BRAUDE: AND FROM THAT GATHERING, NEARLY 200 NATIONS AGREED TO INITIATIVES THAT-- IF FULLY IMPLEMENTED-- IT WAS ESTIMATED WE COULD LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING TO 1.8 DEGREES CELSIUS BY 2050.

SINCE THEN, MORE THAN 30 OF THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE MADE THEIR TARGETS EVEN STRONGER.

COP27 BROUGHT ABOUT A GROUNDBREAKING "LOSS AND DAMAGE" FUND FOR THE COUNTRIES HIT HARDEST BY CLIMATE DISASTERS, AND THE U.S. CONGRESS CAME THROUGH ON THIS PROPHETIC COMMENT ABOUT CLIMATE ACTION ON CAPITOL HILL: >> I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO GET THIS LEGISLATION THROUGH.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE MOMENT WILL BE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS WILL PASS THIS AT SOME POINT IN TIME, AND THE PRESIDENT WILL GET IT, AND THE WORLD WILL SEE IT.

>> BRAUDE: SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE JOHN KERRY JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: SECRETARY, BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JIM, WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU, AND GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

AND AS I SAID EARLIER TO YOU, GLAD YOU'RE CONTINUING ON YOUR RADIO SHOW.

>> Braude: YOU'RE KIND TO SAY THAT, SENATOR.

YOU'RE WELCOME ANY TIME.

LAST YEAR I SPOKE TO YOU AND DR. VANESSA KERRY FROM COP-26,AND COP-27 IS OVER.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL MOST HOPEFUL COMING OUT OF THE MEETINGS IN EGYPT, SECRETARY?

>> WELL, IT IS DIFFICULT NOW BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY COUNTRIES ARE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH, AS PROMISED, IN GLASGOW, AND SOME FELL SHORT OF DOING WHAT GLASCOW CALLED ON THEM TO DO, WHICH IS THE TO RAISE THEIR AMBITION, ACCORDING TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT.

SO, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE WORLD THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO KEEP TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WILL KEEP 1.5 DEGREES AS THE LIMIT OF OUR WARMING, BUT NOT ENOUGH COUNTRIES ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WHAT THEY PROMISED TO DO AT GLASCOW, LESGLASCOW.

SO WE'RE ON A TRACK THAT COULD LEAD US TO 2.5 DEGREES OF WARMING OR MORE, THUNDERMORE, AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY CATASTROPHIC.

SO WE HAVE A HUGE TURN AROUND WHICH WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH, WHICH IS THE RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF RENEWABLES, THE REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS, AND PROVIDING THE FINANCE FOR COUNTRIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THIS DEPLOYMENT TO ENGAGE.

>> Braude: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FINANCING IN A MINUTE, BUT BASED ON YOUR EARLIER COMMENTS, IT SEEMS WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING WHAT IS NEEDED IS PIPE-DREAM STUFF, SECRETARY, NO?

>> NO, IT'S ACTUALLY NOT PIPE-DREAM STUFF AT ALL.

THE IEA, THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY SAYS IF WE SIMPLY DEPLOYED RENEWABLES WE HAVE TODAY, WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO MEET OUR 2030 GOALS.

AND THE 2030 GOALS ARE BASICALLY A MINIMUM OF A 45% GLOBAL REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS.

WE COULD ACHIEVE THAT.

BUT NOT ENOUGH COUNTRIES ARE EVEN DEPLOYING THE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, SO THERE IS A -- I'M TRYING VERY HARD TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE IT, BUT IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN SYNDROME OF AVOIDANCE.

THERE IS SOME MAKE-BELIEVE, AND THERE IS SOME OSTRICH POLICY, PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETEND NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

BUT THE REASON I THINK THERE REALLY IS HOPE LIES IN THE FACT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

AND I THINK MOTHER NATURE IS SENDING US A STRONGER AND STRONGER MESSAGE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

WE NOW HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC, WHERE IT WAS 70° AND 100° FAHRENHEIT ABOVE NORMAL THIS PAST SUMMER.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME STARK INPUT THAT OUGHT TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO MOVE.

BUT WHAT IS EXCITING IS THERE IS AMAZING PROGRESS BEING MADE IN TECHNOLOGY.

AND I'M NOT SOMEBODY WHO SITS BACK AND SAYS, OH, BOY, TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES.

NOT NECESSARILY.

BUT WE ARE MAKING REMARKABLE PROGRESS ON SOLAR, ON WIND, ON TURBINES, ON BATTERY STORAGE, ON CARBON CAPTURE, ON GREEN HYDROGEN.

AND JUST THE OTHER DAY, IT'S A 25-YEAR, 30-YEAR AWAY RESULT, BUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH FUSION AT LEAST PROVES THE CONCEPT AND OPENS THE DOOR TO MORE EXPLORATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE COUNTRIES THAT ARE DOING ENORMOUS EFFORT RIGHT NOW.

GERMANY, FOR INSTANCE -- GERMANY IS MOVING TOWARDS 80% OF ITS ENTIRE POWER SECTOR IS GOING TO BE PRODUCED FROM RENEWABLES.

THAT IS REMARKABLE FOR A VERY HEAVILY INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT RAPIDLY, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT PUTIN AND RUSSIA AND THE GAS SITUATION AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

SO UKRAINE HAS ACTUALLY ACCELERATED SOME EFFORTS TO GET OFF OF FOSSIL FUEL AND MOVE TO RENEWABLES IN EUROPE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> Braude: CAN WE RETURN FOR A SECOND TO -- YOU DIDN'T CALL THEM THIS, BUT THE HOLDOUTS AND THE STRAGGLERS.

I'M NOT A DIPLOMAT LIKE YOU ARE, I'M UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT NONE OF THESE LEADERS ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO THINK THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.

ARE THEY MAKING A CALCULATION THAT THE WORLD WON'T BURN DURING THEIR TENURE, AND THEY'LL LEAVE IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

YOU SIT IN THIS ROOMS PRIVATELY WITH THESE PEOPLE, AND WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

YES, SOME ARE THINKING EXACTLY JUST WHAT YOU DESCRIBED.

AND OTHERS ARE THINKING AND SAYING TO THEMSELVES, WAIT A MINUTE, WE DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM.

WE MAY BE EMITTING NOW BECAUSE WE DEVELOPED LATER IN LIFE THAN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WEST, BUT WE DESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF, QUOTE, "CARBON SPACE" HERE.

YOU GUYS WHO HAVE BEEN BURNING IT FOR 150 YEARS, AND HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE MONEY, OUGHT TO MAKE A GREATER EFFORT TO REDUCE YOUR EMISSIONS AND GIVE US A BREAK WHILE WE'RE DEVELOPING AND GAINING THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP TO YOU.

I CAN NAME A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES THAT HAVE THAT PHILOSOPHY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A COUNTRY LIKE CHINA, WHICH IS 30% OF ALL OF THE EMISSIONS IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON COAL, BUT ALSO HAS 4.5 BILLION PEOPLE IN THE A REGINA THAT IS INTENT ON KEEPING THOSE PEOPLE EMPLOYED, AND UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AS HAPPY AS THEY CAN.

AND THE RESULTS ARE YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO COAL SIMPLY TO CONTINUE THEIR ECONOMY AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL, AND THEY'LL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DON'T COMPLETELY ACCEPT THE DAMAGE PREDICTIONS.

YOU HAVE GOT, AS I SAID, PEOPLE WHO JUST PUT THEIR HEAD IN THE SANDND CONTINUESAND ANDCONTINUE ON.

JIM, I'VE TALKED TO REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND ASKED THEM WHY THEY'RE NOT MOVING, AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, OUR COLLEAGUES DON'T BELIEVE IT IS THAT URGENT.

OR THEY THINK WE CAN MAKE UP FOR THIS, WE CAN ADAPT DOWN THE ROAD.

FOR THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND RICHEST ECONOMY, WE CAN DO A LOT OF ADAPTING.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T ADAPT TO VERY EASILY, LIKE THREE METERS OF SEA LEVEL RISE IF THE ARCTIC ICE SHEET MELTS COMPLETELY AND SO FORTH.

SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY RUNNING EXTRAORDINARY RISKS HERE.

AND THE TRAGEDY OF IT, JIM, IS THAT THERE REALLY IS A BETTER, BRIGHTER, HEALTHIER, SAFER, CLEANER OUTLOOK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF DOING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND THEY'RE ALSO IS A VERY BRIGHT SIDE TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS A BETTER JOB CREATOR AND BIGGER EMPLOYER TO MOVE RAPIDLY INTO THIS TRANSITION, TO THE NEW ENERGY ECONOMY, THAN IT IS TO NOT DO ANYTHING AND PAY THE PRICE FOR ALL OF THE DAMAGES THAT WILL BE DONE.

AND IT'S MUCH HARDER TO REDUCE THE EMISSIONS LATER ON RATHER THAN TO DO IT NOW, IN A STEADY BASIS, RATHER THAN SOME STEEP CURVE THAT WE CAN'T EVEN MEET.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF DAMAGES, YOU MENTIONED THIS A MINUTE AGO, THE INITIAL REPORTS OUT OF COP-27 CELEBRATED THE COMMITMENT TO THESE POORER COUNTRIES.

BUT FROM AFAR, IT SEEMED TO ME TO BE A LOSS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WERE NO NAMES ATTACHED TO WHO WOULD BE DONATING TO A FUND.

NO NAMES ATTACHED TO WHO WOULD BE THE RECIPIENTS.

AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SECRETARY, BUT WASN'T THERE A COMPARABLE THING OUT OF COPENHAGEN, AND THAT 100 BILLION DOLLAR COMMITMENT HAS NOT BEEN MET EVEN OVER THE LAST DECADE.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY SHOULD WE THINK THIS STRATEGIC, AND I THINK MORAL, RESPONSIBLE TO THESE COUNTRIES IS GOING TO BE MET?

>> THAT IS THE QUESTION.

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GOOD AT THIS.

THE FACT IS THE $100 BILLION HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY PROVIDED.

WE ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT NOT BEING FULLY PROVIDED BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MEET OUR LEVEL BECAUSE THE CONGRESS WON'T APPROPRIATE IT.

AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY.

DONALD TRUMP PULLED OUT OF THE AGREEMENT.

PRESIDENT OBAMA PUT SOME OF THE MONEY IN ON PURPOSE, KNOWING THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SO WE GOT A BILLION OR SO INTO IT.

BUT REGRETTABLY IT WAS ZEROED OUT.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS COME IN AND HE HAS DOUBLED AND QUADRUPLED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET THERE, BUT HE CAN'T GET THERE.

THE FIRST YEAR, HE HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BUDGET, THE SECOND YEAR IS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE INCREASED EVEN MORE.

BUT THE FACT IS WE'RE BEHIND, AND SOME COUNTRIES RESENT THAT, AND YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN SHALLMASHACK IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE COUNTRIES ARE FEELING THE DAMAGES FROM THE CHRISTINA CLIMATE CRISIS, 17 OF THE 20 MOST THREATENED ARE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND THOSE 17 FEEL INTENSELY, WAIT A MINUTE, WE DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE ALMOST AN IOTA TO THIS, AND YET WE'RE UNABLE TO GET THE HELP THAT WE NEED.

THAT CREATED A VERY CRITICAL MOVEMENT, AND PEOPLE FELT COMPELLED TO SAY THAT OVER THIS NEXT YEAR WE WILL FIGURE OUT WHO WILL CONTRIBUTE AND HOW MUCH AND WHAT THE STRUCTURE WILL BE, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD AN UPCOME DECIDING THAT THERE, AND WE ALSO HAD AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT UP BY A YEAR TO TRY TO GET IT DONE BY THE END OF THIS NEXT YEAR.

SO I THINK -- I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT IT.

BUT IN THE END, LET ME BE EXPLICIT TO EVERYBODY, THE U.N. FINANCE REPORT HAS FOUND IN ORDER TO EFFECT THIS TRANSITION TO A NEW ENERGY ECONOMY THAT IS CLEAN AND COMES FROM OTHER THAN EMITTING, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN GIVING GAS-EMITTING SOURCES, WE WILL HAVE TO INVEST -- NOT SPEND, BUT IN INVEST, ABOUT $2.5 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS.

WE'RE CLOSE TO $1 TRILLION, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT $100 BILLION THAT IS NEEDED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRILLIONS THAT ARE NEEDED.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE RUB OF THIS WHOLE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN, WHICH IS SO EXACERBATING, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SOURCE YET FOR THOSE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

NO GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PLUG THE HOLE OF THOSE TRILLIONS.

SO WHO DOES?

THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS TRILLIONS THAT ARE WAITING TO BE INVESTED IN THIS TRANSITION.

AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ALREADY MOVING AND STARTING TO DO THAT, BUT IT IS NOT A CRITICAL MASS.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING AT THE LEVEL THAT WILL AFFECT THIS TRANSITION.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE NEED CONCESSIONARY FUNDING TO HELP DERISK THE DEALS THAT PRIVATE SECTOR CAPITAL WILL PUT ITSELF AT RISK AND GO INTO THESE INVESTMENTS.

IN SOME PLACES, THE RISK IS POLITICAL OR REGULATORY OR IT'S CURRENCY CHANGE.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF RISKS IN DOING BUSINESSES IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW, WHICH I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING AS STRONGER AS I CAN, IS TO DO MULTI-LATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANK REFORM, THAT WOULD ALLOW THOSE BANKS TO BE ABLE TO LEND MUCH MORE MONEY AT MUCH LOWER RATES WITH LESS DE-RISKING.

WE NEED SOME PROVISIONAL CONCESSIONARY FUNDING THAT WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN AND TAKE AWAY THE RISK, I.E., ASSUME FIRST LOSS OR CREATE A CHAIN OF INVESTMENT WHERE THE BANKS AND OTHER INVESTORS FEELS LESS EXPOSED.

THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TO DEPLOY THE RENEWABLES AND BUILD OUT THE TECHNOLOGIES NECESSARY IN ALL OF THE PLACES IN THE WORLD THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> Braude: SECRETARY, SPEAKING OF BANKS, BILL McKIBBEN SPENDS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME EVERY MONTH ON OUR RADIO SHOW.

HE IS LEADING A CAMPAIGN -- I'M GOING TO PUT WORDS IN HIS MOUTH -- BASICALLY TO SHAME BANKS IN THIS COUNTRY AND BEYOND TO STOP INVESTING IN FOSSIL FUELS.

IS THAT A STRATEGY YOU SUPPORT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE ENORMOUS RESPECT FOR AND ADMIRATION FOR BILL BILL McKIBBEN, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST ADVOCATES ON THIS AND MOST NOTCHABLE KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND YOU HAVE TO PUT PRESSURE, AND HE IS PROVIDING THE PRESSURE.

OBVIOUSLY THE BANKS ARE NOT GOING TO QUIT OVERNIGHT AND NOT LEND, AND SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO PICK UP THE LENDING IN THE PLACE OF IT.

BUT I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO, WHICH IS FORCE ACCOUNTABILITY HERE.

I HAVE TALKED TO BILL ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BANKS TO BE PUTTING TO THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY A FUNDAMENTAL KIND OF ULTIMATUM.

THEY OUGHT TO BE SAYING, LOOK, WE KNOW YOU NEED FUNDING BECAUSE OUR ECONOMIES CAN'T CRASH TOMORROW.

BUT WE ALSO CAN'T BE GIVING YOU AN OPEN-ENDED PROCESS BY WHICH YOU'RE NOT DEMANDING OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE FUNDING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THEIR EMISSIONS, THAT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THOSE EMISSIONS, AND ULTIMATELY GET RID OF THEM ALL TOGETHER, SO WE CAN, IN FACT, ULTIMATELY PROTECT OUR PLANET, AS WELL AS OUR ECONOMIES.

AND I THINK WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW TO BE DEMANDING MORE FROM THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS FROM ALL PROVIDERS OF ENERGY, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THEIR EMISSIONS.

THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE PROBLEM.

AND IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT, FOR INSTANCE, GAS IS ONE TRANSITIONAL FUEL THAT PROVIDES YOU WITH AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS OF ANYWHERE FROM 30% TO 50% OVER EITHER OIL OR COAL, COAL PARTICULARLY.

AND IN MOST PLACES, PEOPLE ARE NOW DEFUNDING COAL AND MOVING MANAGE MORE MUCH MORE RAPIDLY TO GET INTO A TRANSITIONAL STATUS.

BUT WHEN YOU GET TO 2030, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE CAPTURING A GOOD PROPORTION OF THE EMISSIONS EVEN FROM GAS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET TO NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 TO HOLD THE EARTH'S TEMPERATURE INCREASE TO 1.5°.

SO EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU CAN'T GET TO NET ZERO 2050, WHICH A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE ADOPTING AS A TARGET, UNLESS YOU DO ENOUGH BETWEEN NOW AND 2030.

AND IF YOU DON'T DO ENOUGH BETWEEN NOW AND 2030, WE WILL BLOW THROUGH THE 1.5°, AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MASSIVE INCREASES AND THE DAMAGES BEING DONE AND THE COSTS WE'RE PAYING TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, SECRETARY, I'M SURE YOUR HAND WAS STRENGTHENED WHEN CONGRESS FINALLY DID AN HISTORIC SPENDING INVESTMENT PROVISION IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT CAME JUST AFTER THE SUPREME COURT, IN THE SAME WEEK THEY OVERRULED ROE, THE SAME WEEK THEY WEAKENED GUN LAWS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, ALSO CUT BACK ON THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT OF THE E.P.A.

TO REGULATE EMISSIONS.

SPEAKING OF BILL McKIBBEN, HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT VIS-AÀ-VIS VE YOU.

>> IT UNDER CUTS ANY ABILITY THAT AMERICA HAS TO LEAD IN THIS FIGHT.

THE SADDEST PERSON ON THIS PLANET HAS TO BE JOHN KERRY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOES AND TALKS TO THE CHINESE OR THE INDIANS AFTER THIS.

>> Braude: YOU MIGHT WANT TO TELL US HOW YOU DO DO THOSE THINGS, BUT THE SUPREME COURT COULD BE A REAL ROAD BLOCK ON MAKING PROGRESS ON THIS FRONT, COULD IT NOT?

>> IT CAN BE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, WITHOUT ANY QUESTION.

BUT -- AND HERE IS THE BUT -- I BELIEVE PERSONALLY THATçB RESPONSIBLE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE UNITED STATES, HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION THAT THIS IS REAL, THAT THE NEW ECONOMY HAS TO BE MOVED TO AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

SO YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT COMPANIES ARE MAKING.

FOR INSTANCE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND GENERAL MOTORS AND VOLVO AND OTHERS, THEY'RE GOING ELECTRIC.

THERE IS NO GOING BACK.

THEY'VETHEY'VE SPENT HUNDREDS AND MILLIONS TO REDO THEIR FACTORIES TO DO ELECTRIC.

AND WE CREATED SOMETHING CALLED "THE FIRST MOVERS COALITION," WHICH IS A COALITION OF 65 OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE WORLD.

65% OF GLOBAL G.D.P.

REPRESENTED IN THOSE COMPANIES, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS BUYING GREEN.

THEY'RE PURPOSELY SENDING A MARKET SIGNAL, A DEMAND SIGNAL, THAT MEANS THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY THE GREEN PREMIUM TO BY GREEN CEMENT, GREEN STEEL.

VOLVO AND FORD AND GENERAL MOTORS SET A TARGET THAT 10% OF THE STEEL THEY BUY TO MAKE THEIR CARS MUST BE GREEN STEEL NOW.

THAT IS SENDING A VERY POWERFUL MESSAGE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE.

AND YOU HAVE APPLE AND MICROSOFT AND ALL OF THESE BIG COMPANIES, FEDEX, BOEING, UNITED AIRLINES, DELTA -- A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE JOINED IN THIS FIGHT, AND THEY'RE AHEAD OF THE POLITICIANS IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO TRANSITION AS RAPIDLY AS POSITIVE.

>> Braude: I DON'T WANT TO BREAK THIS POSITIVE MOVE.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THE DEFEAT OF BOLSINARO, THE DE-FORESTER IN CHIEF I'M ASSUMING IS A HUGE DEVELOPMENT, VIS-AÀ-VIS THE AMAZON?

>> YES.

I MET WITH THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, AND HE IS VERY MUCH FORWARD LEANING AND WANTS TO RENEW SOME OF THE EFFORTS HE WAS MAKING AND EVEN DO MORE.

I HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING, BECAUSE WE ARE CO-CHAIRING WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM GHANA A CLIMATE FOREST LEADERSHIP PARTNERSHIP, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30 COUNTRIES THAT ARE ENGAGED NOW IN EFFORTS TO END DE- DE-FORESTATION.

WE'LL PUT EFFORTS INTO PLAY TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

INDONESIA HAS JOINED IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND WITH GERMANY AND A FEW OTHERS TO REDUCE THEIR DE-FORESTATION, AS WELL AS TO REDUCE THEIR COAL USE AND TO SET A SPECIFIC GOAL FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF RENEWABLES, BOTH WIND AND SOLAR, AND RAISE THEIR TARGET TO ABOVE 43% OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

SO COUNTRIES ARE MOVING.

PEOPLE ARE COMING ON BOARD.

IT IS JUST NOT HAPPENING BIG ENOUGH, FAST ENOUGH.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO ACCELERATE.

BUT, ME, BELIEVE ME, BILL WAS 100% ON TARGET.

IT DIDN'T HELP US TO HAVE THAT DECISION.

IT DIDN'T HELP US NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PASSED.

NOW THAT IT IS PASSED, THE UNITED STATES HAS HIGH A LEVEL OF CREDIBILITY AS ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE LEADING TO TRY TO EFFECT THIS TRANSITION.

>> Braude: CAN WE SPEND A MINUTE ON ANOTHER THING YOU WERE IN THE CENTER OF, THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, WHICH OBVIOUSLY YOU NEGOTIATED, AND OBVIOUSLY PRESIDENT TRUMP BACKED OUT OF.

THERE IS A LOT OF DEBATE THAT I READ ABOUT, SECRETARY KERRY, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO REENGAGE.

THE PROTESTORS ON THE STREETS OF IRAN, ONE OF THEIR CENTRAL MESSAGES IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THEIR COUNTRY IS AN ILLEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT.

HOW DO WE SPLIT THAT BABY?

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING, VIS-AÀ-VIS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REINVIGORATE THAT DEAL.

>> THERE ARE OTHERS WORKING ON THAT DEAL RIGHT NOW.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT DEAL.

I THINK IT WAS THE STRONGEST NUCLEAR AGREEMENT RELEASED.

THEYTHE DELAY TIME IN THEIR TRYING TO MAKE A BOMB IF THEY BROKE OUT OF THE AGREEMENT WAS MORE THAN A YEAR.

NOW IT IS DOWN TO A MATTER OF WEEKS.

IT IS A MORE DANGEROUS WORLD.

ONE OF THE I THINK, GREATEST FOREIGN POLICY MISSTEPS, RECKLESS AND UNBASED IN FACT WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP PULLING OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT.

BECAUSE WE HAD TAKEN A NUCLEAR WEAPON POTENTIAL AND PUT IT IN A PLACE WHERE IT WAS CONTAINED, AND NOW IT IS NOT.

AND THE WORLD IS MORE DANGEROUS AS A RESULT OF THAT.

WE HAD TELEVISION CAMERAS AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES, WE HAD 130 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE ON THE GROUND CHECKING EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY POTENTIAL OUTLET FOR URANIUM ENRICHMENT OR OTHERWISE.

WE HAD TAKEN THEIR EXISTING CENTRIFUGES, AND THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THE EARLIEST GENERATION, THE WORST ONES THEY HAD.

I MEAN, THAT WAS A DEAL THAT WAS ENFORCEABLE WAY OUT INTO THE FUTURE.

AND THE MYTHOLOGY ATTACHED TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED IT ON PRINCIPLE BECAUSE FRANKLY THEY JUST WANTED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE REGIME, BUT I BELIEVE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS PREDICTED WHEN PRESIDENT RUHANI SAID, I DON'T TRUST THE WEST, BUT I'LL LET YOU NEGOTIATE THIS AGREEMENT, AND THEY HAD BITTER DEBATES WITHIN IRAN, WHO WAS MOST OPPOSED TO THIS AGREEMENT BEING DONE?

THE I.R.C.

G., THE REPUBLICAN GUARD, THE MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE IN IRAN DID NOT WANT THIS DEAL.

AND IF YOU WENT TO ISRAEL, THE HIGHEST OFFICIALS OF THE ISRAELI SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT DID WANT THIS DEAL AND THOUGHT IT WAS WORKING.

>> Braude: SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW, SENATOR, IN LIGHT OF THE PROTESTS IN THE STREETS, QUICKLY, IF YOU CAN?

>> NOW WE HAVE TO RESPECT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF GRAN ARE FIGHTING FOR.

WE HAVE TO STAND ON OUR PRINCIPLES AND OUR VALUES.

THEY JUST HUNG A 23-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MAN YESTERDAY FOR DEMONSTRATING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE, AS THEY HAVE BEFORE.

AND I THINK THE WORLD NEEDS TO SHOW ITS SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY WANT TO BE FREE AND RESPECTED AND LIVE A BETTER LIFE IN THEIR COUNTRY, WHERE THEY'RE NOT BEING SANCTIONED BY THE WORLD BECAUSE OF A REGIME.

>> Braude: WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

ARE YOU STEPPING DOWN, SECRETARY?

>> I HAVE NOT MADE ANY DECISIONS YET IN TIME.

I DECIDED, WHEN I ACCEPTED THE JOB WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, I SAID I WOULD BE WILLING TO COME DOWN FOR A YEAR.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO.

MY PLANS ARE TO CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT I'M CLEARLY, AT SOME POINT IN TIME -- THIS COMES TO A CLOSE.

>> Braude: ARE YOU CHOOSING YOUR WORDS AS CAREFULLY AS YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE?

>> I'M JUST BEING HONEST ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FUTURE IS GOING TO HOLD COMPLETELY A YEAR FROM NOW OR EVEN A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW.

I KNOW I'M DOING THIS JOB, AND I HAVEN'T OFFERED A RESIGNATION AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY ELSE ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE NO PLANS OTHER THAN TO DO THE JOB RIGHT NOW.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF WORDS, "RECKLESS," AND "UNBASED IN FACT," ARE THE TWO KINDEST THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SECRETARY KERRY, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK.

GOOD LUCK.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU, JIM.

BEST TO YOU.

>> Braude: THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

I'LL BE BACK FOR ONE FINAL TIME HOSTING "GREATER BOSTON."

WITH A BRIEF LOOK BACK AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET UKRAINE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org