California: Governor Newsom inks new global partnerships at COP30 as Trump administration doesn’t even show up
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Nov 11, 2025

Governor Newsom inks new global partnerships at COP30 as Trump administration doesn't even show up

What you need to know: As Donald Trump fails to even send a U.S. delegation to COP30, Governor Newsom is on the ground meeting with world leaders, signing new partnerships, and advancing efforts to create jobs, fight pollution, and prove that America's climate leadership isn't gone — it's just headquartered in California.

BELÉM, BRAZIL — On Day 2 of his participation at COP30, Governor Newsom showcased California's leadership as a global climate powerhouse. Representing subnational governments on behalf of the U.S. Climate Alliance and the America Is All In coalitions — both of which California is co-chairing — the Governor joined world leaders in Belém, Brazil, to advance partnerships that demonstrate how economic growth, innovation, and climate action go hand in hand.

While Donald Trump skips the world stage, California is showing up — leading, partnering, and proving what American climate leadership looks like. The world can count on California to keep leading and innovating as we build the future with cleaner air, good jobs, and economic growth.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Governor Newsom began the day with a tour of the Amazon Bioeconomy and Innovation Park — Brazil's first space dedicated to advancing sustainable value chains and forest-based innovation. Among the day's first highlights was the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Pará, Brazil. Governor Helder Barbalho of Pará and Governor Newsom signed an MOU to strengthen cooperation on wildfire prevention and response — enhancing forest monitoring, identifying areas most at risk, and sharing research and expertise to improve firefighting and emergency management.

Downloadable high-res b-roll available here.

Later in the day, Governor Newsom met with Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister of Indigenous Peoples, to discuss areas for joint cooperation on climate action, including the role of indigenous communities in California and Brazil.

Governor Newsom also met with Thekla Walker, Environment Minister for the German state of Baden-Württemberg, and German State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth, to highlight the leadership and achievements of our two subnational governments that founded the Under2 Coalition and to discuss shared priorities for the decade ahead. Following the meeting, the Governor participated in a  joint statement signing ceremony with Minister Walker and California's Natural Resources Secretary, Wade Crowfoot — signaling continued shared priorities in the fight against climate change and celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Under2 Coalition.

Later, Governor Newsom met with HRH Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, the Netherlands' Special Envoy for Climate, to discuss progress toward carbon neutrality and continued collaboration under the 2022 MOU between California and the Netherlands. The conversation reaffirmed shared priorities on advanced air mobility, climate resilience, and economic growth.

Governor Newsom also witnessed the signing of a new MOU between California and Nigeria focused on sustainable urban transportation, green ports, low-carbon transportation fuels, climate adaptation, methane detection and abatement policies, greenhouse gas emissions and air quality, and academic exchange and university partnerships. They also discussed Nigeria's new presidential climate council and carbon market framework for technology and research development. The partnership was coordinated by California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, who has worked with Nigerian partners to advance shared priorities in clean mobility and sustainable infrastructure. "California is honored to join hands with Nigeria — a powerhouse of trade, technology, and innovation — to build a cleaner, more connected future across continents. Guided by Governor Newsom's bold climate and economic vision, this partnership reflects our shared commitment to sustainable growth, zero-emission transportation, and opportunity for the next generation," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin.

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Delivering remarks on the world stage

Governor Newsom concluded his day by delivering closing remarks at the Ministerial Meeting co-hosted by the COP30 Presidency, Brazil's Ministry of Cities, and UN-Habitat, amplifying the voice of cities and regions on the world stage. Speaking on behalf of subnational governments, he presented outcomes from the Local Leaders Forum in Rio — representing more than 14,000 cities, states, and regions united in turning climate pledges into measurable progress. The Governor highlighted California's results-driven model — cutting pollution, creating clean-energy jobs, and proving that economic growth and climate action go hand in hand.

Following the plenary, as co-chair of America Is All In, Governor Newsom then joined a fireside chat with Christiana Figueres, a key architect of the Paris Agreement, where he showcased how California continues to lead on climate as the federal government retreats.

While Washington retreats from global leadership, California is building partnerships that deliver real-world solutions. Recent examples include:
  • 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's climate leadership

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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 this year.

Since the beginning of the Newsom Administration, battery storage has surged to over 15,000 megawatts — a 1,944%+ increase, and over 30,000 megawatts of new resources have been added to the electric grid. California now has 30 percent of the storage capacity estimated to be needed by 2045 to reach 100 percent clean electricity.

California at COP30

COP30 is an annual global meeting where world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and civil society leaders gather to discuss actions to tackle climate change. Hosted in Belém, Brazil, this year's conference marks ten years since the Paris Agreement and emphasizes moving from ambition to action. California's leadership, as both a founder of the Under2 Coalition and co-chair of national climate alliances, exemplifies how states and regions are driving progress where national governments fall short.

California's delegation includes the Governor, California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds, California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez, and Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari.

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