John Kerry says we can't leave climate emergency to 'neanderthals' in power

It's a lie that humanity has to choose between prosperity and protecting the future, former US secretary of state tells Australian conference

The former US secretary of state John Kerry has warned that humanity risks marching off a cliff unless governments take immediate action to fight the climate emergency.

In a keynote address to the Global Table food and agriculture conference, Kerry made veiled swipes at the Australian government's lack of climate and energy policy. He also weighed in on the heated debate about the massive Adani coalmine proposed for north Queensland.