California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday told attendees at the United Nations climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye, that the state will continue its climate initiatives even as the federal government retreats, according to the governor’s office.
The administration said California is demonstrating how state and regional governments can accelerate clean energy transitions and lower costs.
Newsom spoke at a press conference alongside other state and regional leaders at the 31st Conference of the Parties, or COP31. He said California’s commitment to climate action transcends any single president and is “built into the DNA of our state.” The governor noted the state has run its power grid on 100% clean energy for part of the day on nine out of 10 days so far this year.
During his remarks, Newsom blamed fossil fuel companies for stalling environmental solutions. He stated that major oil companies recently generated $100 billion in quarterly profits at the public’s expense, according to the governor’s office.
Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom met with Chris Bowen, Australia’s minister for climate change and energy, to discuss sea-level rise, ocean health and clean electricity. Siebel Newsom also spoke on a U.S. Climate Alliance panel regarding women’s leadership in building climate-resilient communities.
The governor’s office said California added more than 39,000 megawatts of utility-scale clean energy to its grid since Newsom took office in 2019. The state reported having 552,300 clean energy jobs, citing a 2025 industry report.