When climate meets knighthood, things get... complicated.
The title has a certain charm — Sir John. It rolls off the tongue with old-world flair. That’s what many of us former newspaper scribblers are now calling John Kerry, the man once known as America’s Climate Czar.
No, he’s not joining the ranks of Sir Elton John or other distinguished Knights Commanders of the Order of St. Michael and St. George — well, not exactly. But close enough. Kerry recently received an honorary knighthood from King Charles III for his efforts toward combating climate change while serving under President Joe Biden. The move has sparked both applause and raised eyebrows.
“I think His Majesty and I both understand the urgency of acting now,” Kerry modestly remarked after the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where the 81-year-old — a former senator, presidential candidate, and Secretary of State — officially became Sir John in spirit, if not in strict British law.
Some might joke that it’s surprising the King didn’t create a new Order of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket just for him. Even without the titles of duke, earl, or baron, the knighthood alone adds more than a touch of royal prestige.
And don’t expect progressives to stake “No Knights” signs in protest outside their homes. After all, their existing “No Kings” signs are meant for Donald Trump — not for the British monarch. In fact, for many, King Charles is precisely the kind of king they can get behind.
Here’s where it gets interesting: this latest honor came shortly after Kerry left his post as Biden’s top climate envoy. Without his government badge, he’s no longer flying at taxpayer expense to warn the world about carbon emissions — while ironically jetting to climate conferences alongside other globe-trotting environmental elites. It’s a paradox critics can’t resist pointing out.
Consider this: back in 2019, Kerry took a private jet to Iceland to accept an environmental leadership award. When reporters questioned the irony, he replied, “It’s the only choice someone like me has to win this battle,” insisting he couldn’t exactly sail across the ocean to attend climate summits.
But Kerry’s climate crusade faced turbulence before. Most of his initiatives were rolled back under Donald Trump, who dismissed the Green New Deal as a “scam” and pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. Trump also loosened environmental regulations and reopened federal lands for drilling.
Kerry didn’t stay quiet. He accused Trump of willful ignorance, saying, “Communities are being destroyed by stronger storms. People are being displaced by unlivable heat.” But Trump could easily counter that the only person circling the globe was Kerry himself — often aboard a private jet. Or that the “wandering masses” Kerry spoke of were, in his view, largely the result of Biden’s lenient border policies, which Kerry had supported.
So where does that leave Sir John? Still in command of his own narrative, it seems. Even as Climate Czar, he refused to release details about his staff or his travel expenses, brushing off requests from reporters and members of Congress alike. Now that he’s got a royal touch to his résumé, he’s even further above the fray — at least in his own orbit.
Perhaps sainthood comes next. But just remember — it’s Sir John to you, not Kerry.
And here’s the debate worth having: is this knighthood a well-earned recognition of decades of environmental advocacy, or is it another example of elite self-congratulation among those who preach sustainability from private jets? Let’s hear your thoughts — does “Sir John” deserve the crown, or just the critique?
