I’m thrilled that The Climate Center is attending the United Nations annual climate conference once again. This year’s 30th “Conference of the Parties,” or COP30, brings together governmental representatives from almost every country in the world, along with tens of thousands from civil society, to advance climate action. Chief Program Officer Barry Vesser and Legislative Manager Allison Hilliard are there, in Belém, Brazil at the mouth of the Amazon, representing The Climate Center. They have already hosted or participated in multiple events, including with Governor Newsom, State Senators Josh Becker and Henry Stern, and California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez.
As an official Observer organization, we are making best use of this opportunity to showcase our collaborative policy solutions on the world stage, learn about creative climate solutions from our global counterparts, and strengthen relationships with California’s climate decision-makers.
At COP30, we’re sharing California’s progress toward phasing out polluting fuels, expanding clean energy solutions like advanced geothermal and virtual power plants, and accelerating implementation of natural climate solutions. We’re also learning from others and constantly seeking rapidly scalable solutions to catalyze positive tipping points — now imperative to secure a stable climate.
At COP21 in Paris ten years ago, global leaders agreed to a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (or even 2 degrees C). This would now require nations to execute unprecedented cuts to climate pollution at record speed. That may not be possible, but every tenth of a degree of additional warming avoided will mean less devastation for people and wildlife.
This year, subnational governments like California have an even more critical role to play at COP, especially in the absence of any U.S. federal presence. Governor Newsom is there to demonstrate climate leadership but much more is needed. Join me in thanking Governor Newsom for showing California’s leadership at COP30 and asking him to do even more to secure a climate-safe future for all!
This blog first appeared in The Climate Center’s bi-weekly newsletter. To keep up with the latest climate news and ways to take action for a climate-safe future, subscribe today!
