BELEM, Brazil—California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the absence of the U.S. at key U.N. climate negotiations, labeling it as 'doubling down on stupid.' Newsom emphasized the economic risks of the U.S. lagging in climate action and asserted that California is stepping up despite federal rollbacks under the Trump administration.
Governor Newsom articulated that Trump's refusal to attend the talks conveyed a message of indifference toward global climate efforts, stating, 'You don’t matter, we don’t care.' His presence at COP30 was part of a broader effort by several U.S. governors to showcase their commitment to fighting climate change against backtracking federal policies.
Newsom further lambasted the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and highlighted that the U.S. must align with the global shift towards green economies, warning that failing to do so would cede economic power to countries like China.
“This idea that somehow we can put up walls, we can put up barriers... is lunacy,” he remarked, reiterating California's environmental ambitions and legislative actions towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
As climate impacts intensify globally, Newsom underscored that even nations with less favorable views on climate change like Russia and Saudi Arabia are making strides toward greener policies, contrasting with the U.S.'s current federal stance.
The stakes are high; as chronicled by Newsom, California is already experiencing adverse climate phenomena, including unprecedented wildfires and extreme weather.
While the absence of federal representatives at COP30 was noted as a setback, analysts like Alden Meyer expressed optimism about state-level leadership participating in the negotiations.
As the discussions unfold in Brazil, Newsom’s vocal opposition to Trump's climate policies has sparked renewed conversations around state-led climate initiatives, potentially reshaping the narrative around U.S. climate leadership.
