Moment US climate envoy appears to fart as he calls for cutting emissions
The US special presidential envoy for climate has been accused of farting in the middle of his speech calling for cutting back on emissions.
John Kerry, 79, was speaking at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai on Sunday when the awkward interruption occurred.
‘There shouldn’t be any more coal-fired power plants permitted anywhere in the world,’ said Kerry while sitting on the panel flanked by CNN Abu Dhabi managing editor Becky Anderson and International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol.
‘I find myself getting more and more militant because I do not understand how adults who are in a position of responsibility can be avoiding responsibility for taking away those things that are killing people on a daily basis…’
That’s when a loud fart was heard.
Anderson, to Kerry’s right, immediately moved her head slightly away from Kerry and brought her left hand up to her mouth, then down to her chin and looked down.
Birol, to Kerry’s left, nodded and then rolled his eyes up appearing to contemplate.
The audience clapped, seemingly oblivious to the possible passing gas moment.
Kerry continued on as if nothing had happened.
‘And the reality is that the climate crisis and the health crisis are one and the same,’ the US climate envoy said.
Right-wing radio host Larry O’Connor of Townhall Media said Kerry embarrassed the US.
‘The biggest problem is, during this entire exchange, representing us, the United States of America, he ripped a fart out,’ O’Connor told the New York Post. ‘He let loose with flatulence on an international stage.’
Far-right activist Laura Loomer wrote on X: ‘The woman next to him looks like she want to choke on his toxic gas emissions.’
Some social media users were also convinced that Kerry indeed farted.
‘It seems John Kerry should cut down on his greenhouse gases,’ wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user.
On a more serious note, Kerry on Tuesday used his spotlight at the climate change panel to detail the US’s plan to make nuclear fusion a new carbon-free energy source and asked for global cooperation.
‘The United States was proud to announce its bold decadal vision for commercial fusion energy last year,’ Kerry said. ‘But, it is clear we cannot realize this grand ambition – perhaps not at all but certainly not at the pace we need to – doing it alone.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.