California Governor Newsom Grabs COP30 Spotlight, Labels Trump “Temporary”

California Governor Newsom Seizes COP30 Spotlight, Slams Trump’s Climate Policies.

With US President Donald Trump absent from the UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon, California Governor Gavin Newsom took center stage on Tuesday, sharply criticizing Trump’s fossil fuel agenda and his repeated withdrawals from the Paris climate accord.

The well-known Democrat, often discussed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, called Trump’s actions “an abomination” and accused him of “doubling down on stupid” by backing Big Oil. Newsom reaffirmed that a future Democratic administration would rejoin the Paris Agreement “without hesitation,” describing it as both a moral obligation and an economic necessity.

Speaking in Belem, the host city for COP30 in the northern Brazilian state of Para, Newsom highlighted California’s green credentials, noting that the state — the world’s fourth-largest economy — now runs two-thirds on renewable energy. His visit included meetings with Para Governor Helder Barbalho, Germany’s Baden-Wurttemberg officials, Brazil’s minister for Indigenous Peoples, and the COP30 president, drawing significant media attention normally reserved for national leaders.

While regional leaders like Newsom do not participate in official COP negotiations, their influence on climate action is tangible. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who also attended COP30 events, emphasized the role of states and cities in driving progress when the federal government is absent.

Christiana Figueres, a key architect of the Paris Agreement, noted that the summit benefits from Trump’s absence, saying it prevents direct interference from a government hostile to climate action.

Even without federal participation, US states and cities wield considerable power. A University of Maryland analysis found that state-level action, combined with a climate-focused president in 2028, could reduce US emissions by over 50 percent by 2035, approaching targets set by the Biden administration.

Newsom also highlighted the resilience of market-driven renewable energy growth, even in states with climate-skeptic leadership such as Texas. Yet he acknowledged the limitations imposed by federal policy, citing recent Republican moves to end clean energy tax credits and Trump’s international efforts to block carbon pricing on shipping.