PROVIDENCE (AP) — Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is faulting President Donald Trump's administration for failing to fill many diplomatic positions and top Department of State posts and is criticizing his stance on climate change.

Kerry was a Democratic U.S. senator from Massachusetts and spoke Friday in Rhode Island. He says the United States needs to invest in the work of democracy and building international relationships. He warns against allowing a "neo-national demagoguery to take away from America what has made America great."

WPRO News reports Kerry spoke during a conference in Providence for energy and environmental leaders.

Kerry criticizes the Republican president's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. Trump says leaving the agreement reasserted "America's sovereignty."

Kerry says Trump's focus on boosting coal production ignores climate science and increases in renewable-energy sector jobs.