California Governor Gavin Newsom Slams U.S. Absence at COP30, Positions Himself as Climate Leader:

California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t mince words at this week’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, sharply criticizing the U.S. federal government’s lack of top-level representation and seizing the moment to brand himself as a forward-looking climate leader. While President Donald Trump has opted to send no senior officials to the annual global climate summit, Newsom, long known for his rivalry with Trump, stepped into the vacuum. At a ministerial panel, he accused the U.S. administration of “abandoning any sense of duty, responsibility or leadership” on climate issues. “It’s an abomination. It’s a disgrace,” Newsom declared. But rather than simply lamenting the absence, he pledged action: “We’re trying to do something about it.” In a message aimed at the global audience, he said: “I come here with humility, coming from the United States of America … I’m here because I don’t want the United States of America to be a footnote at this conference, and I want you to know that we recognise our responsibility, and we recognise our opportunity.” The California governor went further, contrasting his state’s climate agenda with the Trump administration’s stance. He framed the U.S. absence as creating a strategic opening for China, America’s geopolitical contender, to deepen its influence in the clean-energy race. “This is not about electric power. This is about economic power. And we, in the state of California, are not going to cede that race to China,” he said. Newsom also referenced California’s bipartisan climate legacy, citing former Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon as pioneers in air and water pollution controls—an effort to signal that clean-energy leadership transcends party lines. The timing of his remarks is significant. With term limits ending his governorship after the 2026 mid-terms, Newsom is increasingly projecting a national profile. He has travelled abroad—most recently to China—to forge international climate ties; during the 2024 U.S. presidential race he challenged Republican policies; and as a prominent surrogate in the Biden campaign, he sharpened his political visibility. At COP30, Newsom didn’t shy away from taking aim at Trump’s domestic energy agenda. He noted a draft federal proposal to allow offshore oil drilling along the California coast—which he called “dead on arrival”—and argued the plan’s leak on the conference’s opening day was no coincidence. “It’s remarkable that he didn’t promote it in his backyard at Mar-a-Lago,” Newsom quipped, suggesting a double standard. One of his broader critiques went beyond energy policy. When asked about Trump’s repeated air strikes against maritime vessels tied to alleged drug smuggling, Newsom called the actions a violation of due process. “What happened to the rule of law?” he asked. “I don’t believe in the rule of Don. That’s what we’re up against in the United States of America.” In the panel titled “America Is All In”, Newsom described Trump as “a wrecking-ball president” whose power is “temporary”, characterising him as an “invasive species”. Turning to messaging strategy, the governor stressed the need for clearer language on climate. “The vast majority of my audience doesn’t know what Celsius is,” he said, arguing that discussions about “1.5 degrees Celsius” or “greenhouse-gas emissions” often feel abstract to voters. He called for metaphors and conversations that resonate with everyday life. In short: Governor Gavin Newsom seized the stage at COP30 not just to lambast the Trump administration’s climate absence, but to showcase California as a model of innovation, bipartisanship and international engagement—while subtly positioning himself for national leadership.

NEWS