California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the Trump administration’s absence at COP30 an “abomination” and a “disgrace” during a panel discussion Wednesday, one of several events the governor attended at the United Nations’ annual climate summit this week.
This year’s edition of the summit is being held in Belém, Brazil, and has gathered representatives from over 190 countries for climate negotiations over the course of two weeks with the hope of reaching deals and commitments to accelerate climate action.
However, notably missing from the mix is a formal delegation from the U.S., as the White House declined to send any senior officials to the conference this year. The move is in line with other steps President Donald Trump has taken to reverse the nation’s federal climate policy, including a second U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement.
Last week, Trump’s energy secretary Chris Wright told reporters that COP30 was “essentially a hoax” and “not an honest organization looking to better human lives.”
Newsom has used the conference to distinguish California and potentially elevate his national and global political profile. The Democratic governor, widely considered to be contemplating a 2028 presidential run, applauded his home state on its progress toward a green transition. Newsom said two-thirds of California was powered by clean energy in 2023 and that the state ran on 100% clean electricity “nine-out-of-10 days” this year.
Newsom also told the audience he sought to draw this contrast between California and the leadership situated in Washington, D.C. as he didn’t want the latter to shape the world’s perception of the U.S.
At a separate event held Tuesday, Newsom said “Trump is temporary” and that the world should view the state of California as a “stable” and “reliable partner” when it comes to climate cooperation and climate action.
“I do not want the United States of America to be a footnote on climate policy,” Newsom said.
The California governor’s comments come the same week The Washington Post reported the Trump administration is weighing a five-year draft proposal that would allow offshore drilling along the coast of California.
When asked about the plan at a COP30 event, Newsom said the proposal was “dead on arrival.” The governor also criticized the timing of the reveal, noting its overlap with the opening of the climate conference.
