Camilla Jessen
California governor defends climate action in Brazil, calls U.S. withdrawal from Paris Agreement an “abomination”
With no official U.S. federal delegation present at the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, California Governor Gavin Newsom stepped into the spotlight on Tuesday, delivering sharp criticism of President Donald Trump.
“Trump is temporary,” Newsom said during a press event, taking aim at Trump’s environmental policies and the United States’ second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
“Donald Trump is doubling down on imbecility,” he added.
The Governor also called the retreat from global climate commitments an “abomination.”
Newsom leads unofficial U.S. presence at COP30
Newsom, who is widely seen as a potential Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential election, took part in a full day of events, including meetings with Brazilian officials, environmental leaders, and European ministers.
He highlighted California’s progress on clean energy, noting that the state has operated on 100 percent clean electricity on nine out of every ten days this year.
“If California were a country, we’d be the fourth-largest economy in the world,” Newsom said, adding that the state serves as a model for how subnational governments can push forward on climate when national governments hesitate or fall behind.
He wasn’t alone in his criticism of the Trump administration’s climate stance.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, also at COP30, said, “When the federal government gets involved, we do more. When it withdraws, we do even more.”
World leaders react to U.S. absence
This year marks the first time in COP history that the U.S. federal government has not sent an official delegation.
Many international leaders voiced concern over the absence, especially as Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is set to take effect in January 2026.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the U.S. absence “does not compromise the COP,” but warned that long-term global cooperation requires American participation.
“The re-engagement of the United States will be indispensable,” he said.
Ivory Coast’s climate envoy Abe Assamoi echoed that view, stating that “Trump’s position is excessive” and that climate change remains a “reality” regardless of politics.
Speaking with reporters, Newsom reflected on the challenges of getting Americans to care about climate change.
“Most of my audience doesn’t even know what Celsius means,” he said. “What does 1.5°C mean in Fahrenheit? Do greenhouse gas emissions float in the sky or fall to the ground? We need better metaphors.”
Source: Digi24
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation
