Governor Newsom to Attend UN Climate Conference in Turkey

California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to join international leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Turkey. Newsom sees this as a chance to spotlight California’s climate achievements. He also criticized President Trump for not sending a U.S. delegation.

According to Newsom, “While Donald Trump sells out America’s economic security to his fossil fuel donors, California isn’t backing down from the climate fight.” He emphasized that Trump’s approach is temporary, while California’s international partnerships are lasting.

Trump’s absence has allowed California governors to highlight their climate policies. Former Governor Jerry Brown condemned Trump’s move to exit the Paris climate agreement in 2017. Brown took a 10-day trip that year to various locations, including the Vatican and Berlin, where he criticized lack of action on global emissions.

In 2018, Brown hosted his own climate summit in San Francisco to re-engage countries with climate goals. Since taking office, Newsom has attended several Climate Week events in New York. These platforms have often been used to criticize Trump’s policy reversals.

In 2019, Newsom gained attention by expressing his embarrassment over the federal government’s retreat from climate commitments. His upcoming trip to Turkey follows his attendance at a UN conference in Brazil, where he positioned California as a counterpoint to Trump’s administration.

As Newsom eyes a potential presidential run in 2028, he plans to focus his address in Antalya on efforts to cut greenhouse gases and promote zero-emission vehicles in California. He is expected to meet with world leaders and sign agreements combating climate change.

Newsom’s team in Turkey includes First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and key climate advisors such as Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, and Lauren Sanchez, chair of the California Air Resources Board.