US Governors Take Center Stage at UN Climate Summit in Brazil

On November 11, 2023, at the UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, the absence of President Donald Trump from the proceedings was notable as US governors, particularly from California and New Mexico, took the spotlight. The second day of the conference is expected to focus on the initiatives of these state leaders, especially California‘s Governor Gavin Newsom, who has positioned himself as a prominent voice against the Trump administration’s environmental policies.

Newsom, who governs the world’s fourth-largest economy, has been vocal in his criticism of the current federal approach to climate change. Speaking at a Milken Institute event in São Paulo on the eve of the summit, he stated, “We are doubling down on stupid in the United States of America,” emphasizing his commitment to climate action and contrasting it with the policies of the Trump administration, which have prioritized fossil fuel expansion.

State Leaders Push for Climate Action

During the summit, Newsom plans to meet with Helder Barbalho, the governor of Pará, and Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico. Both meetings are expected to focus on collaborative efforts to address climate change. Newsom’s agenda includes highlighting California’s achievements, such as a robust economy valued at $4.1 trillion that is now powered two-thirds by clean energy, along with the state’s Cap-and-Invest program, a carbon market that has been legally extended until 2045.

Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham, who leads a state that is a significant producer of fossil fuels, is advocating for renewable energy and measures to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Her efforts reflect a broader trend among state leaders who are increasingly taking climate initiatives into their own hands, despite federal resistance.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

The political landscape remains complex, as recent actions by Trump’s Republican Party have raised concerns about the future of clean energy initiatives. A law recently passed by Congress aims to end clean energy tax credits that were part of the Biden administration’s agenda, posing potential setbacks for the renewable sector. Despite these challenges, experts like Champa Patel, executive director for governments and policy at the Climate Group, assert that states still possess the frameworks established during previous administrations to pursue climate goals.

“The states have that roadmap, they can still follow it and keep to the spirit of Paris,” Patel remarked, emphasizing that the real momentum for climate action is likely to come from state-level initiatives.

While US governors are making strides in climate advocacy, there remain questions about the limitations of state-level actions in the broader context of international climate agreements. Currently, these state and regional coalitions operate outside the official text-drafting process at climate summits, which may limit their influence on global policy.

The discussions at the UN climate summit in Belem reflect a crucial intersection of state action and federal policy, as leaders like Newsom and Lujan Grisham strive to navigate the complexities of climate change amidst shifting political currents in the United States.