Governments "the world over" must step up to tackle the climate crisis according to American diplomat John Kerry at a conference in Kew Gardens yesterday.

John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, gave a speech on the urgency of global climate action inside Richmond's famous gardens.

He said: "Simply put the world needs to cut emissions, by at least 45% by 2030 in order to be on a credible scientific path by mid-century to net zero.

"The climate crisis is the test of our own times.

"This test is now as acute and as existential as any previous one."

He called Cop26, the UN climate conference in Glasgow in October, "a pivotal moment" and said that we are in "the decisive decade", with 2021 "a decisive year".

He emphasised the influence of world leaders: "The world order that exists today didn't just emerge on a whim. It was built by leaders and nations determined to makes sure that never – never – again would we come so close to the edge of the abyss."

His audience included London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said: "Recent events around the world have shown the need to take bold, global action on the climate emergency in order to save lives, livelihoods and our environment.

"It was a pleasure to speak with @JohnKerry today, and discuss the US and London's shared commitment on this."

Environmental activists including Extinction Rebellion Richmond say that the steps proposed are not ambitious enough.

Some took to Twitter to point out that Kerry has his own private jet, an ideological clash while talking on tackling global emissions.

Read more here.

John Kerry served in the Senate between 1985–2013 and was the Democratic Party's nominee for president in 2004.

John Kerry leaves the UK today for Rome and Naples in Italy to attend the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Climate Change and Energy.

You can read more about him here.

Have you signed up for our weekly newsletter yet? Sign up HERE for the top Richmond stories in your inbox each Friday!

For more Nub follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @RichmondNubNews on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.