Newsom Heads to Turkey for UN Climate Talks
California's governor departs for Antalya after the Trump administration declined to send a U.S. delegation to the conference.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in International Relations
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California Governor Gavin Newsom leaves the state on Tuesday to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Turkey. He criticized President Donald Trump as a no-show after the administration declined to send a U.S. delegation.
Why it matters
Newsom is positioning California's climate policies as a counterweight to federal retreat from international climate commitments. His trip follows a pattern of California governors engaging directly with global climate forums.
The announced delegation includes three state officials alongside the governor, and it follows a prior Newsom trip to Brazil for the UN conference. Which agreements, if any, California will sign in Turkey has not been detailed.
The players
Gavin Newsom
Governor of California, a Democrat who has positioned himself as a national leader on climate policy and has been considered a potential presidential candidate.
Donald Trump
President of the United States, whose administration declined to send an official delegation to the UN climate conference in Antalya.
The details
Newsom said his attendance will show that California's climate leadership is delivering results, citing efforts to cut greenhouse gases, promote zero-emission and electric vehicles, and expand clean energy. He accused Trump of selling out America's economic security to fossil fuel donors, and he is expected to meet other world leaders and sign pacts on climate action.
Timeline
2017: Former Governor Jerry Brown made a 10-day trip to the Vatican, Brussels, Oslo and a UN climate conference in Bonn, Germany.
2018: Brown hosted an international climate summit in San Francisco.
2019: Newsom said he was 'absolutely humiliated' by Trump's efforts to roll back national climate policies.
Last year: Newsom attended the UN climate conference in Brazil.
Tuesday: Newsom departs California for Antalya, Turkey.
Political Context
California's governors have repeatedly used international climate forums to contest federal climate retreats, a pattern Jerry Brown set with his 2017 European trip and 2018 San Francisco summit. Critics of this approach argue that state-level diplomacy cannot substitute for a national commitment under the Paris framework.
The trip itself does not change state law, but California's climate commitments, including vehicle and clean-energy policies, shape regulations that affect residents directly. Readers should watch for any formal agreements Newsom signs in Antalya that could translate into state programs.
The takeaway
State-level climate diplomacy is becoming a visible arena of policy competition when federal engagement shifts. Watch which commitments California formalizes, since they determine whether the rhetoric translates into enforceable programs.
Further reading
For more on how states engage in global diplomacy, explore International Relations coverage across California politics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
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