California: At Munich Security Conference, Governor Newsom advances climate action and partnerships as Trump abandons America’s allies
The Californer/10339262

Trending...
News

Feb 13, 2026

At Munich Security Conference, Governor Newsom advances climate action and partnerships as Trump abandons America's allies

What you need to know: At the Munich Security Conference, Governor Gavin Newsom reinforced California's role as a stable, reliable partner, even as the Trump administration retreats. The Governor deepened partnerships with Germany, the EU, and Denmark.

MUNICH, GERMANY – Governor Gavin Newsom kicked off his first day at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, where he advanced climate partnerships across continents and participated in a panel discussion underscoring the threat of climate change to national and economic security.

While President Trump threatens allies, weakens climate leadership, and creates instability on the world stage, California showed up as a steady force — deepening cooperation with our partners and demonstrating the importance of engagement across states and regions.

While Donald Trump continues to demonstrate that he is unstable and unreliable, California is leaning in on the partnerships that make California stronger, Americans safer, and our planet healthier. Growth and security depend on democratic values, credibility, and climate action. California delivers all three.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The Governor's day included meetings with Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment, the European Union's Commissioner for Climate, and Denmark's Foreign Minister. Each engagement focused on advancing shared climate goals, strengthening economic ties, and reinforcing our values.

Deepening subnational partnerships

Governor Gavin Newsom and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Prime Minister, met on climate and trade cooperation.

Governor Newsom began the day with a meeting with Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Prime Minister, to advance climate and trade cooperation between California and Denmark. The discussion built on the MOU the Governor signed with Denmark in August 2025, which established a framework for strategic cooperation on the green economy, climate resilience, technology, digital safety, and innovation ecosystems.

Governor Gavin Newsom and Carsten Schneider, German Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, met on strategic climate partnerships.

The Governor then met with Carsten Schneider, German Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, to advance climate cooperation between California and Germany. Both leaders pledged deeper cooperation on renewable technologies that cut pollution while creating jobs and economic growth.

Governor Gavin Newsom and Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, met on climate collaboration.

Governor Newsom also met with Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, to deepen EU–California climate cooperation. The two leaders  — who previously met at Climate Week in September 2025 — discussed California's progress on zero-emission vehicles, carbon pricing, including California's Cap-and-Invest program, and opportunities for climate collaboration in 2026.

Governor Newsom participated in a main stage panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference.

Climate security takes center stage

Governor Newsom participated in a main stage panel discussion, "Playing With Fire: The Need for Decisive Climate Action," moderated by Bloomberg Editor-at-Large Francine Lacqua. Other panelists included:
  • Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of Republic of Vanuatu
  • Lídia Pereira, Vice President of European People's Party Parliamentary Group and Member of the European Parliament
  • Andrew Forrest, Executive Chairman of Fortescue

The discussion focused on the urgent need for decisive climate action as a security imperative, with panelists addressing the intertwined challenges of climate finance, geopolitical tensions, and the role of subnational governments in sustaining international cooperation when national leadership breaks down. Governor Newsom emphasized California's role as a stable, reliable partner that provides steady leadership and predictable signals to markets and investors, even as the Trump administration retreats from the global stage.

California at the Munich Security Conference

The Munich Security Conference is the world's leading forum for debating international security policy. As the Trump administration undermines alliances and retreats from climate leadership, California's participation demonstrates how subnational governments sustain international cooperation, and advance shared values.

California's global climate network

These new partnerships add to a growing list of California's international partnerships that are delivering real-world climate results:
  • Brazil (2025 MOU): Partnering to advance market-based carbon pricing programs, clean transportation expansion, including zero-emission vehicles and low-carbon fuels, and strengthening air quality management through enhanced monitoring and regulatory controls. The partnership also focuses on the conservation of 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030, including nature-based solutions and biodiversity protection.
  • Denmark (2025 MOU): California and Denmark are jointly tackling the challenge of data-center decarbonization, designing faster and cleaner grid interconnection pathways. Denmark's experience with offshore wind and grid flexibility is informing California's new CalFUSE framework to help consumers use clean power when it's most available.
  • Kenya (2025 MOU): California and Kenya formed a historic partnership to cut pollution and boost trade. The partnership advances medium- and long-term low-carbon development and national climate plans, including policy research, development, and innovation in sustainable land use and urban planning that reduces long commutes and urban sprawl, while promoting integrated land use and transportation systems.
  • Noord-Holland (2024 LOI): California and Noord-Holland are advancing next-generation air mobility—from drones to zero-emission aircraft. Joint innovation missions are producing pilot projects that inform California's Advanced Air Mobility Implementation Plan and readiness for major global events.
  • Australia (2023 MOU): Australia's first-ever vehicle emissions standards were developed in partnership with input from the California Air Resources Board. The California Public Utilities Commission and the California Independent System Operator have also advised Australia on electricity-market reform, helping align incentives for renewable energy.
  • British Columbia (2023 MOU): Mutual wildfire assistance is delivering results. British Columbia sent incident management experts to support California's Palisades Fire in 2025, while CAL FIRE deployed personnel during B.C.'s 2025 fire season. These exchanges established a lasting framework for cross-border wildfire support.
  • China (2023 MOUs): California signed five MOUs with China's National Development and Reform Commission, the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu, and the municipalities of Beijing, and Shanghai to advance cooperation cutting greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and developing clean energy.
  • Denmark (2021 MOU): Collaboration on groundwater mapping, leak detection, and water efficiency has modernized California's data systems and informed key state programs, like the Airborne Electromagnetic Survey. Danish technologies and expertise have helped strengthen drought and water-supply resilience statewide.
  • Mexico (Baja California & Sonora MOUs): Partnerships with the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora are delivering results across zero-emission freight corridors, clean ports, and battery manufacturing. This partnership is strengthening North American supply chains and workforce readiness. Joint forums have already produced new research collaborations and training programs advancing clean-tech deployment.

California is filling the leadership void

More on The Californer
While the Paris Agreement is an international agreement requiring federal action to formally join, California has long demonstrated that states can pursue Paris Agreement-aligned climate goals through domestic policy and subnational partnerships.

When President Trump first withdrew from the agreement in 2017, California responded by co-founding the U.S. Climate Alliance — a coalition of states, now co-chaired by Governor Newsom, committed to meeting Paris targets regardless of federal participation, now representing 24 governors and 60% of the U.S. economy.

California has helped build the largest domestic and international network of subnational climate cooperation in the world.

International coalitions
  • Under2 Coalition: Last year, California and Baden-Württemberg, co-founders of the Under2 Coalition, signed a joint statement celebrating ten years of partnership. The coalition now represents more than 270 governments committed to keeping global temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius.
  • Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance: In 2021, Governor Newsom announced that California joined the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance (BOGA) launched at COP26, bringing together national and subnational governments committed to advancing a just transition away from oil and gas production. California is a member of this international alliance working to phase out oil and gas production and usher in a cleaner and greener future that safeguards our communities, environment, and the economy.
  • Subnational Methane Action Coalition: Launched by California at COP28 in Dubai, the Coalition brings together subnational governments from around the world committed to aggressively cutting methane — a climate super-pollutant that accounts for nearly 30% of current global warming and is roughly 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Initial signatories span five continents and include California and Colorado (U.S.); Querétaro and Yucatán (Mexico); Gauteng (South Africa); Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Pernambuco (Brazil); Cross River State (Nigeria); Delhi (India); Baden-Württemberg (Germany); British Columbia (Canada); Santa Cruz (Bolivia); Andalusia (Spain); and Gyeonggi (South Korea).

Domestic coalitions
  • U.S. Climate Alliance: Governor Newsom co-chairs the bipartisan coalition of 24 governors co-founded by California on June 1, 2017, in direct response to Trump's first Paris withdrawal.
  • America Is All In: Governor Newsom co-chairs the broadest coalition ever assembled in support of climate action in the United States, including states, cities, tribal nations, businesses, and institutions.

California's climate leadership

Pollution is down and the economy is up. Greenhouse gas emissions in California are down 21% since 2000 — even as the state's GDP increased 81% in that same time period, all while becoming the world's fourth largest economy.

California also continues to set clean energy records. In 2023, the state was powered by two-thirds clean energy, the largest economy in the world to achieve this level. California has also run on 100% clean electricity for part of the day almost every day last year.

Since the beginning of the Newsom Administration, battery storage has surged to nearly 17,000 megawatts — a 2,100%+ increase, and over 30,000 megawatts of new resources have been added to the electric grid. California now has 33% of the storage capacity estimated to be needed by 2045 to reach 100% clean electricity.

Press releases, Recent news, Top story

More on The Californer
https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkur..." rel="nofollow">https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https...">Recent news

California's historic investments to curb retail theft result in 29,060 arrests $226 million in recovered goods in two years

Feb 13, 2026

News What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced significant updates to California's fight to stop organized retail theft – leading to over 29,060 arrests and recovering $226 million in stolen property – in two years. SACRAMENTO – As a direct result of state...

Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor Katie Hobbs, and Governor Joe Lombardo release joint statement on Colorado River deadline

Feb 13, 2026

News SACRAMENTO – Today, ahead of the federal deadline for Colorado River negotiations, Lower Basin Governors released the following joint statement: The federal deadline for a consensus agreement on managing the Colorado River after 2026 is passing for a second time...

Fighting fraud, saving time, cutting costs: Governor Newsom's efficiency strategies are improving state government

Feb 13, 2026

News What you need to know: California continues to build efficiency, effectiveness and engagement to make state government work better for you. SACRAMENTO — Through Governor Newsom's efficiency strategies, California continues to make the state work better for...
Show All News | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on The Californer