He also cited the prospect of new markets for “America’s second-to-none innovators and entrepreneurs.”

“We need to commit ourselves to doing the smart thing and the right thing and to truly take on this challenge, because if we don’t rise to meet it, then rising temperatures and rising sea levels will surely lead to rising costs down the road. Ask any insurance company,” he said.

The Hill’s Julian Pecquet has much more on the speech here.

The State Department represents the U.S. at ongoing international talks to craft a new global climate accord, and has an array of bilateral climate and green energy partnerships, among other global warming-related work.

Kerry is also under pressure from green groups to reject to proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline that State is reviewing.