California's Climate Stand: Newsom Steps Up at COP30

California Governor Gavin Newsom is making waves at the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil. He's there to show that California is serious about fighting climate change, even if the U. S. government isn't. Newsom is meeting with leaders from around the world to talk about green technology and climate policy. California is a big deal. It's not just a state; it's the world's fourth-largest economy. That means what California does matters a lot. Newsom is using this platform to highlight California's progress in renewable energy. The state has way more jobs in green tech than in fossil fuels. Plus, it's home to Tesla, a major player in the electric vehicle industry. But Newsom isn't just here to brag. He's also calling out the U. S. government for rolling back clean energy policies. He says this is giving China a big advantage in the green tech market. China is leading in electric vehicles, renewable energy components, and batteries. Meanwhile, U. S. automakers like General Motors are struggling to keep up. The U. S. government is notably absent from COP30. Former President Donald Trump has dismissed climate change as a hoax. Some diplomats are worried that Trump's administration might try to disrupt the summit from afar. Newsom, a Democrat, is considering a run for president in 2028. He's been using social media to promote his message, even adopting some of Trump's brash style. Newsom also criticized Trump's trade policies, saying they're making the U. S. less competitive. He compared Trump's approach to that of China's President Xi, rather than former U. S. President Ronald Reagan. Newsom believes Trump is turning the U. S. into a "petro state" and embracing "state capitalism" over free markets. In short, Newsom is using COP30 to show that California is a leader in the fight against climate change. He's also using the platform to criticize the U. S. government's approach to climate policy and trade.