Newsom Heads to NYC for UN Assembly and Climate Week

California Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to New York City this week to attend events during the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week. The trip marks Newsom's second out-of-state engagement this month and includes participation in high-level discussions on climate change.

Newsom is scheduled to appear at the America Is All In Summit on Tuesday for a fireside chat with Wopke Hoekstra, the European Union’s climate commissioner. On Wednesday, he will join Washington Governor Bob Ferguson for a discussion at the North America Climate Summit. He is also slated to deliver remarks at a special climate session convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The governor's office stated that Newsom plans to engage in several meetings focused on climate partnerships, though specific details were not immediately available. The trip provides Newsom with a national platform as he considers a potential presidential run in 2028.

This visit coincides with President Donald Trump's expected presence in New York for related events. Newsom has been critical of Trump's policies, stating in a release that the president is "giving the fossil fuel industry exactly what it wants." Trump is among the approximately 130 heads of state and high-ranking officials attending events in New York this week, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Earlier this week, Newsom declared a state of emergency in California in anticipation of a potentially strong El Niño pattern that could bring flooding and landslides. This declaration comes as the state faces concerns over high gas and electric bills.

Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor, criticized Newsom's trip, calling it an "insult to every Californian" and blaming Newsom's policies for the state's high energy costs.