California governor inks global climate deals amid Trump pullback

California's Democratic governor is setting himself up as a national climate champion by pursuing international climate cooperation despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the global Paris Agreement on climate change.

Governor Gavin Newsom, regarded as a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, on Feb. 16 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UK government to jointly pursue decarbonization and other climate strategies.

The MOU was the most fleshed-out of numerous climate partnerships that California has recently announced on the international stage. It was accompanied by a pledge from UK-based Octopus Energy Generation to invest $1 billion in California projects, including the purchase of a solar and battery development and support for efforts to remove carbon from the atmosphere via the planting of forests and grasslands.

In a statement, Newsom called California "the best place in America to invest in a clean economy because we set clear goals and we deliver." He said the state "will continue showing the world how we can turn innovation and ambition into climate action."

The deal, which Newsom and UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband signed in London, stresses both polities' support for global decarbonization and environmental protection along with economic growth.

According to the text, California and the UK promised to work together in various areas, including development of offshore wind, energy storage and low-carbon hydrogen technology. The MOU specifically called for work to boost investment in "early-stage clean energy technologies."

UK cooperation deal

Other areas identified for joint effort include carbon markets and emissions trading; atmospheric carbon removal including via carbon capture, utilization and storage; zero-emissions vehicles; and low-carbon transportation fuels.

The MOU also called for collaboration on fusion technology as well as artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

Under the terms of the agreement, California and the UK committed to share information and best practices on regulatory issues and program design and to work together on project development and events, including symposia and training.

The agreement with the UK came after Newsom and German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider met Feb. 14 at the Munich Security Conference and pledged to work together on climate initiatives.

Newsom said after that meeting that California and Germany would "show the world that fighting climate change strengthens both our economy and our security."

With Trump pursuing a fossil fuel-friendly policy agenda and largely abandoning efforts by former Democratic President Joe Biden to promote a green energy transition, Newsom has emerged as one of the most high-profile opponents of Trump's energy policies.

The two leaders have clashed in particularly acrimonious fashion over California's efforts to promote vehicle electrification. Last year the Trump administration revoked the Biden administration's approval of California regulations that would have required manufacturers to stop selling new internal-combustion engine cars and light trucks in the state by model year 2035. California immediately filed a lawsuit against that policy, and Newsom has vowed to defend the state's right, enshrined in the federal Clean Air Act, to set its own vehicle-emissions standards.

In November 2025, when Trump refused to send federal representatives to the COP30 climate talks in Brazil, Newsom led a delegation to the talks himself and vowed to take steps to fill the void in federal leadership. Newsom is currently a co-chair of the US Climate Alliance, a group of state and territorial governors vowing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.