John Kerry to travel to Europe next week for climate talks

Of note: Kerry's March 8-10 visit to the European cities marks the first major in-person multilateral meeting for months, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing leaders to hold such talks virtually. Kerry was vaccinated against the virus last month.

• The trip comes as officials in the U.S. and United Kingdom accelerate COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. The European Union has been struggling to overcome a vaccine shortfall, as coronavirus variants drive another surge across the continent.

Details: In London, Kerry will meet with representatives from the British government who are hosting this November's 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, per a statement.

• He'll meet with representatives of the European Commission in Belgium's capital and with French government officials in Paris.

What they're saying: The State Department said in an emailed statement that Kerry is traveling to Europe following careful consultation with his hosts "because the progress we need demands a handful of key in-person meetings to coordinate our efforts."

• Officials would "observe all applicable public health regulations and safety measures" to protect against the coronavirus, including physical distancing and wearing face coverings as appropriate, the statement added.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the State Department.