Kerry scolds other nations, 'We all must move faster' away from coal to avoid climate change perils

John Kerry, President Biden's global climate envoy, is telling other countries they are not moving fast enough away from fossil fuels to avoid the dire consequences of climate change.

Kerry voiced his prediction during a virtual meeting Thursday of the world's most polluting countries including China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, according to The New York Times.

He reportedly asked ministers from the countries to outline what their governments are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to keep promises made at a United Nations climate summit last year in Glasgow.

Kerry made the comment roughly just two months after the meeting in Scotland.

"One thing is clear: We all must move faster in this decade to accelerate the transition from coal to renewables," Kerry said after the closed-door meeting, The Times also reports.

He reportedly said earlier this week at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce meeting: “We’re in trouble. I hope everyone can understand that. Not trouble we can’t get out of. But we’re not on a good track.”

Countries have pledged to keep average global temperatures from rising above 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to preindustrial levels, the threshold beyond which scientists say the dangers of devastating, climate-change connected consequences like sea levels rising and  wildfires will significantly increase, also according to The Times.