Newsom's trip to Brazil, on the surface, appears as California acting alone, but it actually exposes the huge differences between the U.S. federal government and local regions. A few days after Trump took office, he signed an executive order to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This is not a new move; he did it once before, and now he's back for a second term, clearly determined to discard climate change as a hoax.

The federal government didn't even send a low-level official to COP30, which is unprecedented in the history of the UN Climate Conference. Newsom led a "parallel delegation" that included over 100 mayors, county officials, and state leaders, all from Democratic strongholds.

They weren't there for tourism; they directly signed agreements and discussed cooperation, making it seem as if California itself was an independent player.

Newsom spoke frankly at the meeting, saying that the absence of the United States meant giving up global climate leadership to others. He emphasized that California's economy ranks fourth in the world, larger than Canada, and that more than half of the U.S. renewable energy generation came from California last year. California's initiatives such as banning the sale of fossil fuel vehicles and carbon trading have long been global benchmarks.

Newsom said that if the federal government doesn't come, the local regions have to step up. It's not a temporary decision, but a long-term commitment. Brazil welcomed this very well, and both sides signed a memorandum of understanding the same day, focusing on carbon pricing and promoting zero-emission vehicles. Newsom also discussed supply chain sharing with representatives from the EU and Canada, aiming to reduce detours for California companies and allow direct access to international markets.

Newsom boldly placed the blame on the federal government. He specifically criticized Trump's policies as "extremely foolish," saying this not only lost moral high ground but also cost jobs.

Trump's push for a fossil fuel revival sounds satisfying, but it actually puts the U.S. behind in the clean energy race. Newsom gave an example: high electricity bills in California are not due to green energy investments, but because of money spent on wildfire recovery and grid upgrades.

If the federal government continues like this, the local regions will have to rely on themselves. The U.S. might become a patchwork of climate policies, with each state having its own approach, making national coordination difficult. In simple terms, Newsom's actions are telling the world: Washington is asleep, but California is awake, don't judge the entire U.S. based on one misstep.

Newsom's criticism of Trump at COP30 was unrelenting. He directly compared Trump to an "invasive species" and a "disruptor," saying that once in power, Trump immediately started dismantling climate efforts, effectively handing the future of the U.S. economy to others.

Trump has always called climate change a "scam," pushing for drilling, coal burning, and pipeline construction. His slogan is "energy independence," but Newsom calculated that this path won't work. The global clean energy market exceeded $1 trillion last year, and the U.S. share is shrinking, while China takes the lead. Trump's tariff barriers sound like protection for domestic industries, but they actually make U.S. automakers unable to buy affordable batteries, causing costs to skyrocket and competitiveness to plummet.

Newsom said that Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement wasn't a momentary lapse, but a systemic short-sightedness. Under the agreement's framework, the U.S. should have led in carbon neutrality, but now the federal government is leading the way out of the group, forcing local regions to fill the gaps. California passed legislation last year to ban the sale of new gasoline cars after 2035. If the federal government had followed suit, how much oil money could have been saved?

Newsom cited data, stating that California's electric vehicle sales account for 60% of the U.S., creating 100,000 jobs through the green energy chain. Trump's oil and gas drilling plans target California's coast, but Newsom made it clear: no way. This isn't just about environmental boundaries, but also about voters' livelihoods. California fishermen and tourism depend on clean seas, and drilling would cause pollution, resulting in losses of billions.

The Trump camp responded by calling Newsom a "green scam salesman," claiming that California has the highest electricity prices in the country, and residents suffer. Newsom didn't back down, explaining that the price increase was due to aging grids and wildfire compensation, not green energy. If the federal government invested in infrastructure, it would have eased the situation. Newsom also pointed out that Trump's absence allowed China to gain significant advantages.

On the global negotiation table, the U.S. voice weakened, while China's "Belt and Road" green energy projects covered Africa and Latin America, gaining massive influence. Newsom wasn't just talking; he led the signing of a cross-border charging network agreement with Mexico, bypassing federal tariffs to directly connect supply chains. Calculating this, Trump's regression not only caused embarrassment but also real financial loss.

Newsom shifted the topic, his eyes lighting up when praising China. He said that China is not playing games with clean energy, but truly working hard, reaching a new height. It's not about being the leader, but seeing economic benefits.

China has changed its production and consumption model on a large scale, leading in electric vehicles, batteries, and solar energy. Newsom specifically mentioned that China accounts for 80% of global battery production capacity, with low costs that make American companies jealous. Last year, China exported over a million electric vehicles, capturing markets in the EU and Africa. China isn't just talking; it has actually invested trillions in wind farms and photovoltaic parks, showing a bend in the carbon emission curve early on.

Newsom said that the U.S. needs to wake up, as China's strategic vision is what we lack. China understands that clean energy is cheap and improves living standards, directly hitting the U.S.'s top pain point: high inflation and empty wallets. Trump's push for oil and gas provides short-term stability, but in the long run, oil prices fluctuate greatly, while clean energy is stable.

China dominates the supply chain, from mining to assembly, and the U.S. wants to catch up, needing first to cooperate. Newsom isn't just praising; he pushed California companies to negotiate battery transfers with Chinese enterprises, avoiding tariff barriers. Last year, California imported photovoltaic panels from China, installed on tens of thousands of rooftops, saving 20% on electricity bills.

China's green energy sprint follows a simple logic: energy transition is an engine for economic growth. Last year, China's GDP grew by 5.2%, with green industries contributing significantly. Wind power installations rank first globally, and solar panel prices have halved, driving employment through exports.

China also helps developing countries build power stations under the "Belt and Road" framework, exchanging resources and markets.

Trump's confrontational policies have forced U.S. companies to pay high prices for raw materials, reducing competitiveness. China's success isn't due to subsidies, but due to a complete industrial chain and fast innovation cycles.

Newsom's trip to Brazil, in essence, was a political performance, but it was well executed. The Democrats used the climate issue to highlight the differences with the Republicans, and Newsom became a vanguard. In the 2028 election, climate policy is a key card, especially among young voters. Newsom's exposure boosted his popularity in internal polls, and donations followed.

The Trump camp criticized him as opportunistic, but Newsom focused on action. Upon returning home, he pushed a new bill to expand California's carbon network and invest in hydrogen fuel stations. The rift between the federal and local governments is no longer news, with California having its own model, Texas another, making national coordination difficult.

This rift runs deep, stemming from the different bets each party has on the economy.

Trump's strength, local resistance, and China's practical approach are all intertwined.

Climate issues, originally intended for cooperation, have now become a field of competition.

This account still needs to be tallied, and who will ultimately win depends on economic data.

References

Trump was "stealing the spotlight" from Democratic opponents; Newsom criticized climate policy regression. China News

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572537427210912291/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the [Up/Down] buttons below.