Kerry already looking beyond COP26

• "That means that countries that have raised their ambition, but which know that they need technical assistance, and finance, have got to get it," Kerry said.
• "And our focus, our primary focus, will be marrying the trillions that will be on the table with the blended finance, the de-risking, the ... development banks, that make deals happen."

Zoom in: Kerry also name-checked a few of the countries and topics he's eyeing further work on, including India's 2030 renewables target, as well as Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa and others.

• "So there's a big agenda, which is going to require a lot of cooperative work. That's the biggest single thing you can do is help the ambition to become real," he said.

Domestically, Kerry said he's expecting a lot of coordination with the Energy Department, noting he's hopeful about pending legislation in Congress to boost R&D work.

• Asked how long he expects to remain special envoy, Kerry said, "I really haven't confronted that and I haven't taken it on with any specific term in mind." Then the former secretary of State added: "Not forever."