The State Department said on Monday that US climate envoy John Kerry will travel to China and Japan this week “to engage with international counterparts on efforts to address the climate crisis”.

The former secretary of state has led US efforts to convince the global community of the threat of climate change and urge the acceleration of efforts to curb carbon emissions.

On his trip to China, Kerry will look to build on commitments he helped secure during his visit in April, when the two countries, the world’s two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to cooperate to curb climate change with urgency.

In Japan, Kerry “will meet with counterparts to discuss efforts to drive collective climate action” ahead of the COP26 UN climate conference, which will be held in Scotland later this year, the statement said.