This week is the U.N. Climate Summit in New York, where world leaders, diplomats, and experts get together to talk about global climate policy.

But people are increasingly fed up with “solutions” that amount to pouring a cupful of water on a raging wildfire (not unlike the dozens of major wildfires currently burning across the U.S.).

It’s bad enough that even John Kerry – stalwart conservative Democrat, former Secretary of State and former Climate Envoy – had this to say to the summit attendees this week:

“In Dubai almost 200 countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in a way that’s fair, equitable and orderly … and they [fossil fuel companies] are just plowing ahead, like it’s business as usual.”

Asked to give oil and gas companies a grade in their efforts to transition to cleaner energy, Kerry said: “Is there a letter underneath Z?”

With all respect to Secretary Kerry, spare me your outrage.

You served under two Democratic presidents (not to mention a lengthy Senate career) with ample opportunities to advance meaningful climate action. In fact, it was quite literally your job in the Biden administration to address the climate emergency.

Kerry’s wealth, political power, and unprecedented access to world leaders could have made him a powerful ally in the fight for climate justice. But right now, the administration he served is bragging that they’ve issued more drilling permits than any other administration in history.

However, as they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day. His point is correct. World governments have most certainly failed our people and our planet – and there is no grade low enough.

Last year these same world leaders gathered in DUBAI of all places – one of the crown jewels in the fossil fuel monarchies of the Middle East – to talk about their commitment to transitioning off of oil and gas.

Fossil fuel companies ARE conducting business as usual, drilling and burning more than ever and acting as if there are no consequences for their conduct – exactly as they’ve done for the more than 50 years they’ve known about the realities of global warming.

As you read this email right now, there is a 822 mile wide hurricane with a 1100+ mile tail ramming into Florida, having made landfall as a Category 4 storm and blanketing the state.

If you are in the path of danger for this horrendous storm, I sincerely hope you and your loved ones are able to get to a place of safety.