Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is gearing up to attend the 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil next week, while no member of the Trump administration plans to show up.
Newsom is looking to expand his international status after California voters handed him a redistricting win against President Donald Trump this week. This marks the first time the Democratic governor and likely 2028 presidential contender will attend COP, which begins Nov. 10 and ends Nov. 21.
California’s government is particularly cognizant of climate change and the perceived economic benefits of green energy, whereas the Trump administration has taken strides to move away from renewable energy sources and instead invest in the revival of oil and gas production.
“I just want to make sure everyone understands we’re maybe 2000 miles from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but we’re a world away in terms of our mindset on these issues,” Newsom told Politico, which reported on his travel plans next week.
Govs. Tony Evers (D-WI) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), along with roughly 100 leaders from the United States, are also in Brazil for a portion of the climate conference.
Among the state officials in the delegation that Newsom will lead to the South American country are California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds, California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Lauren Sanchez, and California Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari.
California’s presence at the U.N. climate summit makes sense, considering it became the world’s fourth-largest economy this year.
Newsom’s appearance at the global event comes after he recently said he would consider a possible 2028 presidential run after next year’s midterm elections. His term as governor ends in January 2027.
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Meanwhile, the Trump administration has criticized COP and said it doesn’t plan to dispatch any high-level delegates to participate in the climate talks.
“President Trump will not jeopardize our country’s economic and national security to pursue vague climate goals that are killing other countries,” a White House spokesperson recently told CNN. “The President is directly engaging with leaders around the world on energy issues, which you can see from the historic trade deals and peace deals that all have a significant focus on energy partnerships.”
