Newsom Grabs COP30 Spotlight, Criticizes Trump’s Climate Record.
With US President Donald Trump skipping the UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon, California Governor Gavin Newsom became a focal point at COP30 on Tuesday, sharply criticizing Trump’s stance on fossil fuels and climate policy.
The well-known Democrat, widely discussed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, condemned Trump for twice withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement and for supporting Big Oil. Newsom emphasized that a future Democratic administration would rejoin the Paris accord “without hesitation,” calling it both a moral and economic imperative.
Speaking in Belem, the northern Brazilian city hosting COP30, Newsom highlighted California’s leadership on renewables, noting that the state — the fourth-largest economy in the world — now runs two-thirds on clean energy. His visit included high-profile meetings with Para Governor Helder Barbalho, officials from Germany’s Baden-Wurttemberg, Brazil’s minister for Indigenous Peoples, and the president of COP30, drawing attention usually reserved for national leaders.
While US governors and state officials do not take part in official COP negotiations, their actions have real impact. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who also attended COP30 events, stressed that state-level initiatives can drive progress when the federal government steps back.
Christiana Figueres, one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, said the summit benefits from Trump’s absence, preventing direct interference from a government hostile to climate action.
Analysts note that US states and cities wield considerable power even without federal support. A University of Maryland study found that state-level initiatives, combined with a climate-focused president in 2028, could reduce US emissions by more than 50 percent by 2035, approaching Biden administration targets.
Despite federal obstacles, market-driven growth in renewable energy continues, even in traditionally climate-skeptic states like Texas. However, Trump’s administration has taken steps to end clean energy tax credits and block international carbon pricing, highlighting the limits of state-level action.
Urging global leaders to resist pressure from fossil fuel interests, Newsom said, “Trump is temporary,” underscoring the need to stand firm against intimidation and continue advancing climate action.
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