BELEM, Brazil (FN) — California Governor Gavin Newsom seized the spotlight at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) on Monday,11 November, 2025 delivering a blistering critique of President Donald Trump’s fossil fuel policies and pledging renewed U.S. commitment to global climate action under future Democratic leadership. The summit, held in Belém, Brazil, brings together nearly every country on Earth to negotiate strategies for limiting global warming, cutting emissions, and financing climate resilience under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Speaking in Belem, a city in Brazil’s Amazon region, Newsom condemned Trump’s repeated withdrawals from the Paris climate accord. “It is an abomination that he has twice, not once, pulled away from the accords,” Newsom said. He pledged that a future Democratic administration would rejoin the agreement “without hesitation,” calling it “a moral commitment” and “an economic imperative.”
Newsom’s remarks came as Trump skipped the summit entirely, leaving a vacuum that regional leaders like Newsom and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham sought to fill.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a prominent advocate for climate resilience and state-level environmental leadership, attended COP30 to emphasize the role of subnational governments in global climate negotiations. “Certainly our meetings with leaders at the UN and others was to demonstrate that we’re interested in any possibility that does more about that direct negotiation and representation,” she said. “When the federal government leans in, we do more, and when they lean out, we do more. It’s both.”
The California governor’s day began with a joint appearance alongside Helder Barbalho, governor of Brazil’s Pará state. Between bites of tropical fruit and sips of acai juice, Newsom touted California’s green credentials, noting that the world’s fourth-largest economy is now powered two-thirds by renewable energy.
Newsom then launched into a whirlwind of meetings with German officials, Brazil’s minister for Indigenous Peoples, and the Brazilian president of COP30. Media scrums followed him throughout the day, a level of attention typically reserved for heads of state.
Newsom’s high-profile presence at COP30 fueled speculation about his national ambitions. Though he has not declared a 2028 presidential bid, his assertive climate stance and international visibility drew comparisons to a campaign rollout. One observer called the attention he received “the kind of spotlight usually reserved for heads of state.”
Despite their visibility, regional leaders have no formal role in COP30 negotiations. Still, their advocacy was welcomed by some. Christiana Figueres, a key architect of the Paris Agreement, said the summit was better off without Trump’s administration. “I actually think it is a good thing,” she said. “They cannot take the floor and bully other nations.”
A University of Maryland analysis found that if U.S. states ramp up efforts and a climate-friendly president is elected in 2028, national emissions could fall by over 50 percent by 2035 — approaching the 61 to 66 percent reduction targeted by President Joe Biden’s administration.
Even in states with climate-hostile leadership, market forces are driving a green shift. Texas, for example, led the nation in renewable energy generation in 2024. “The president can’t throw a switch and turn everything off — that’s not how our system works,” said Nate Hultman, who led the Maryland report and previously advised Democratic presidents.
Still, federal support remains crucial. Trump’s Republican-led Congress recently passed legislation ending clean energy tax credits early, a move seen as a major setback for the renewable sector. Newsom urged nations to resist intimidation and remember that “Trump is temporary.” He added, “You stand up to a bully.”
Trump’s administration also drew international criticism for opposing a proposed carbon tax on global shipping. According to summit observers, the U.S. delegation “torpedoed international efforts to impose a carbon tax on shipping” by threatening reprisals against countries that supported the measure.
In Brazil, Indigenous leaders welcomed Newsom’s engagement, especially his meeting with the minister for Indigenous Peoples. “It matters when powerful voices speak up for the Amazon,” said activist Maria Tavares, who attended a side event on forest protection.
As COP30 continues, Newsom’s presence has sparked debate over the role of U.S. states in global climate policy. While they lack formal negotiating power, their influence is growing — and their message is clear: climate action cannot wait for Washington.
