Although the President of the United States is not present in Belem, governors, mayors and local officials have traveled to represent their countries in international climate negotiations.
“Observer.” This is the only badge that Michelle Lujan Grisham can earn. The governor of the state of New Mexico, in the United States, attended COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on Tuesday 11 November. “The absence of the White House means their refusal to participate (on) or even his disbelief in the climate crisis is not enough to stop us.” After America withdrew from the Paris agreement in early 2025, and various environmental setbacks across the Atlantic, Washington sent no one to the global event held until November 21st.
Therefore, no official negotiator badge was awarded to the Americans, according to the official list of participants. Overall, no American pavilion presented national issues surrounding climate change, as is the case in other countries around the world. And this is happening, even though the United States represents 20% of historic global greenhouse gas emissions, notes the dedicated site Carbon Brief. In a small room at COP30, the governor raised his voice to drown out the noise of daily heavy rain: “We are a major player, both in terms of emissions, in the bad sense, and opportunities, in the good sense.”
Therefore, the Democrats decided to come to Belem alone. He’s not alone. A coalition of 100 local representatives (senior officials from six states, more than 35 mayors and 50 municipal officials from 26 states) traveled to Brazil, first to attend a global forum of local leaders, in Rio, just before the COP, then, for a dozen of them, in the corridors of the COP. Their collective name: “America Is All In” (“The United States is fully mobilized”). “We represent about two-thirds of our country’s population, three-quarters of our country’s GDP, and more than 50% of our country’s emissions”detailed Gina McCarthy, co-president of America Is All In, in October. On site, they held meetings and conferences with the COP30 president and various UN leaders.
Michelle Lujan Grisham continues to run from one place to another in the corridors of COP30. For him, it’s about reassuring the world: no, the United States has not abandoned the fight against climate change. “Know that hundreds of leaders in our country are more committed than ever not doing what should be done, local leaders fill the void. We’ve done it before. And I wish I could predict that it would never happen again.”
Each mentioned their own local climate-supportive actions. “The largest wind farm in North America is in New Mexico”recalled Michelle Lujan Grisham. “In the Savannawe are improving the infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles”added the city’s representative in the state of Georgia. “We have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21% since 2000”added the Democratic Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. There is so much evidence that, they think, the United States will move on, even without Donald Trump.
“The Trump administration does not reflect the values of the United States. Our governors, mayors and businesses are committed to the Paris Agreement, and we are fighting to build a future for our children and grandchildren.”
Gina McCarthy, former White House climate adviser under Joe Bidenduring a press conference in October
These local representatives also want to show their unity at COP30 and criticize the isolated president, both on the national and international stage. Surrounded by a crowd of journalists, Gavin Newsom made sure of that “The countries are united, despite the obstacles that are happening in Washington (…) I don’t want that (our country) relegated to second place during this conference.”
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The fifty-year-old, who could be the Democratic Party’s next presidential nominee, didn’t mince words regarding the current occupant of the White House. “He is a destructive president. He has tried to reverse the progress that has been made over the last century”he began, at one of the COP stands. Later, during a press conference, his tone was just as offensive: “Donald Trump is doubling down on his stupidity (…) The Trump administration has neglected its duties and responsibilities of leadership on the issues that unite us today. His alliance colleagues also followed in his footsteps. “Outrageous”, “anti-science”, “climate skeptic”, “controlled by the fossil fuel industry”, they stated in turn.
Faced with forces that could cause climate breakdown, the local level seems appropriate for negotiations. “In the American federal system, states, cities, and other subnational governments have significant political power”explains with them Nate Hultman, director of the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland. He cited their expertise in the energy sector as an example, buildings and transportation, and presented to the audience a recent study he co-authored (PDF), which he says the actions of these local leaders can help keep the United States in line with the goals of the Paris agreement. Their measurements “can reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 56% compared to 2005 levels by 2035”he was enthusiastic.
Michelle Lujan Grisham is undergoing her fourth COP, after Glasgow (2021), Sharm el-Sheikh (2022) and Dubai (2023). For him, this is a moment to recognize the key role of local actors. “We’re the ones who really grow the economy. Not the federal government. Not Congress. But state leaders. (federation) and local leaders. And that will continue.”
In their mouths, the economic argument still remains. The 24 governors who are members of the Climate Alliance coalition, another organization represented at COP30 that also includes Gavin Newsom and Michelle Lujan Grisham, saw their states “reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 24% compared to 2005 levels, while increasing GDP by 34%”repeated the actors present at the COP. California has “seven times more jobs in the renewable energy sector compared to the fossil fuel sector”also opined Gavin Newsom. For job opportunities, he added “insurance crisis, exacerbated by global warming” and an increase in the country’s GDP, driven by ecological transition policies.
From Belém, he warned Donald Trump that the United States risks losing out on competition in the renewable energy and electric vehicle markets. “The president doesn’t understand Xi at all (Jinping) must be happy today to see the Trump administration absent from COP30.” His rival’s empty seat policy saw Gavin Newsom take over the entire chamber. “California is a stable and reliable partner. Donald Trump is temporary. California will continue to lead the discussion.” In Belém, he signed a joint declaration with Brazil, a climate partnership with Nigeria, agreements with Chile and Colombia, and a partnership with the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
