Newsom leads U.S. climate talks at COP30 as Trump skips

Newsom signs five foreign deals Trump refused to pursue

COP30 ran Nov. 10-21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil — the first time the summit was held in the Amazon region. The U.S. sent no federal delegation, the first absence in 30 years. Of 193 UN member states plus the EU, all registered delegations except the U.S. at the federal level.

Gov. Gavin Newsom attended Nov. 10-13, 2025, signing five bilateral MOUs: with Brazil (carbon pricing, 30x30 land conservation), Colombia (methane reduction), Nigeria (zero-emission transit, green ports), Denmark (data-center decarbonization), and Kenya (pollution reduction and clean trade). None are legally binding treaties.

Newsom spoke at the ministerial closing session on behalf of more than 14,000 subnational governments — cities, states, and regions worldwide — that presented outcomes from the Local Leaders Forum held in Rio during the summit.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the Associated Press that COP30 is 'essentially a hoax' and 'not an honest organization looking to better human lives.' The White House said it would not 'jeopardize our country's economic and national security to pursue vague climate goals.'

The leaders of the world's three largest greenhouse gas emitters — the U.S., China, and India — were all absent from COP30, though China and India sent senior-level delegations. Only the U.S. sent no federal officials at any level.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was the only sitting U.S. federal official at COP30. Other American attendees included former VP Al Gore, Govs. Tony Evers and Michelle Lujan Grisham, and mayors from Phoenix, Annapolis, and Savannah.

The U.S. Climate Alliance, co-chaired by Newsom, now counts 24 member governors representing 60% of the U.S. economy. All have pledged to meet Paris Agreement greenhouse gas targets regardless of federal policy.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said in his COP30 speech: 'Today Mr. Trump is against humanity. His absence is proof of that. Oblivion is the biggest punishment.' Brazil's President Lula took a more diplomatic line, expressing hope Trump would 'eventually change his mind' about green energy.

Key People

Gavin Newsom

Governor of California

Led the U.S. subnational presence at COP30. Signed five bilateral MOUs, spoke at the ministerial closing on behalf of 14,000 subnational governments, and called Trump's absence 'an abomination.' His appearance positioned him as a leading 2028 Democratic presidential contender.

Donald Trump

U.S. President

Directed the executive branch to skip COP30 entirely. Has called climate action a 'hoax' and, in his first term, initiated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. In January 2026, formally withdrew from the Paris Agreement again.

Chris Wright

U.S. Secretary of Energy

Publicly called COP30 'essentially a hoax' and 'not an honest organization.' His statements articulated the administration's rejection of the summit's scientific and policy premises.

Sheldon Whitehouse

U.S. Senator (D-RI)

The only sitting U.S. federal official who attended COP30. Had no authority to negotiate or commit the federal government to any agreement.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

President of Brazil, COP30 host

Hosted COP30 in Belém and signed an MOU with California. Expressed diplomatic hope that Trump would 'eventually change his mind' about green energy while positioning Brazil as a global climate leader.

Taylor Rogers

White House spokesperson

Called Newsom's COP30 appearance 'embarrassing' and described the summit as a 'climate facade,' reflecting the administration's dismissal of the event's legitimacy.

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•Last updated: November 12, 2025•