California Governor Newson slams Trump for ‘dumb’ US climate policy at COP30

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🗞️ Driving the news: Speaking at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s climate policies, calling them “dumb” and “an abomination”
• Newsom vowed that California would continue leading on clean energy and reaffirmed his state’s commitment to the Paris Agreement despite federal rollbacks
• Trump, who skipped the summit, has twice withdrawn the U.S. from the accord and recently repealed key clean energy tax credits

🔭 The context: Newsom’s remarks came as he joined global and subnational leaders at COP30, highlighting California’s progress — two-thirds of its electricity now comes from renewables
• Alongside the governor of Brazil’s Pará state, he emphasized state-level action as a counterbalance to federal inactio
• The appearance also boosted Newsom’s profile as a possible 2028 presidential contender, symbolizing subnational defiance of Washington’s pro-oil agenda

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Trump’s policies have weakened U.S. credibility in global climate negotiations and slowed progress on renewable investments
• Yet, states like California and New Mexico continue advancing emissions reductions and clean energy deployment
• Experts note that subnational actors remain crucial to maintaining U.S. climate progress: enhanced state and city action could still cut emissions by over 50% by 2035, approaching Biden-era goals

⏭️ What's next: Newsom’s remarks underscore an emerging divide between state and federal climate leadership
• As COP30 continues, U.S. governors are expected to use the platform to reaffirm local commitments and signal solidarity with global partners
• Analysts suggest the outcome of the 2028 U.S. election will determine whether the U.S. reclaims a central role in international climate governance or further cedes influence to regional actors

💬 One quote: “The United States can be as dumb as we want to be on this topic — but California is not. We are going to assert ourselves, lean in, and compete in this space.” — Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

📈 One stat: If U.S. states and cities sustain current momentum, national emissions could decline by more than 50% by 2035, nearing the 61–66% reduction targeted under President Biden’s climate plan

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