COP30 convened in early November in Brazil. While the Trump administration wouldn’t even send a notetaker to Brazil, Governor Gavin Newsom traveled there. He cited California’s climate leadership as an example of climate action combined with economic growth.
California has a population of 21 states combined and a $4.1 trillion annual economy, the fourth largest in the world. If any state in the U.S. can lead climate action, in the absence of federal action, it is the Golden State. The California GHG Emissions Inventory shows a 3 percent decrease in statewide emissions in 2023. That is the equivalent of taking over 2.6 million gasoline-powered cars off California’s roads for a year. Since 2000, California’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 21 percent as the state’s economy has grown by 81 percent.
“The latest data show that science-driven policy and innovation are moving California closer to our climate goals,” said California Environmental Protection Secretary Yana Garcia.
In 2023, two-thirds of California’s power came from clean energy, making it the world’s largest economy to achieve this level. On average, the state’s grid operated at 100 percent clean energy for seven hours each day during 2023. Additionally, under 2025 projections, the grid is expected to run on 100 percent clean energy for nearly 30 percent of the year. This represents a 750 percent increase in clean energy use since 2022. Battery storage for clean energy has increased by 1,944 percent since Governor Newsom first took office.
Governor Newsom took part in a fireside chat at the Milken Institute Global Investors’ Symposium with CEO Rich Ditizio. He talked about California’s forward-thinking climate change actions. He also pointed out that the chasm between the federal government and the state on climate change is “challenged…in a way we’ve never been challenged in the past with the current administration, and particularly our administration in California.”
The governor cited California’s five decades of environmental action, starting in 1967 with then-governor Ronald Reagan, who established the California Air Resources Board. Speaking of California’s partnerships, he said, “The state of California has been a consistent partner for a half century and will continue to be for decades to come.”
California Partners With Other Countries
The Trump Administration refuses to cooperate with any government on climate change. However, California has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with various nations. During COP30 in Brazil, California and Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on environmental issues, which include protecting the environment, combating climate change, and strengthening economic ties, including in technology. In September, California entered into a similar MOU with Kenya. Governor Newsom also signed MOUs with Colombia and Chile.
California has also entered into agreements with subnational governments. For 10 years, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and California co-founded the Under2Coalition, which currently represents over 270 governments committed to keeping global temperature rise to under two degrees Celsius. California established an MOU with the state of Pará, Brazil, to enhance forest monitoring and to share firefighting expertise.
California has established partnerships with European countries. In August 2025, the state and Denmark signed an MOU to support the green economy. Last year, Governor Newsom signed similar MOUs with Sweden and Norway.
Even as the Trump administration abdicates its climate leadership, California’s climate leadership continues to reduce emissions, expand its renewable energy-powered grid, and forge international relationships for climate action.
