By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters), The U.S. Special Climate Ambassador John Kerry has named Rick Duke as his deputy. Duke is the architect of an international accord last year to decrease greenhouse gas methane emissions.

Kerry made a statement to Reuters that Duke will be a leader in implementing U.S. pledges under the Glasgow Climate Pact. Kerry also encouraged other governments to adopt emission reduction targets for 2030 aligned with the goal to keep global temperatures below 1.5 C.

Kerry stated that Rick’s vision and strategic thinking have been a key part of the U.S. efforts to combat climate change over the past two decades.

Duke was previously a Brookings Institution fellow and a Special Advisor on Climate Change to President Barack Obama. As Jonathan Pershing resigned, Duke will now be joined by Sue Biniaz as deputy special envoy to climate change.

Duke was Kerry’s adviser and played an important role in the formation of last year’s Global Methane Pledge (with the European Union), a voluntary partnership that aims to reduce the greenhouse gas methane’s emissions by 30% by 2030, from the 2020 level. There are over 100 signatories.

His contributions to U.S. climate strategy were also crucial. They aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to half by 2030, as per the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, they led U.S. efforts in signing on the Kigali Amendment (the Montreal Protocol) to combat hydrofluorocarbons.

Pershing will return to his previous job managing the Hewlett Foundation’s climate programs in California. Last month, Pershing told The New York Times that he intended to only stay for one year at the State Department.