đź•’ Last updated on September 24, 2025
California announced a new climate partnership with Brazil on Tuesday, just hours after strong remarks from the U.S. president dismissing climate change. The state’s governor described the issue as the “existential threat of our time” and said ignoring it would put future generations at risk.
California moves ahead with global climate partnership
The agreement comes in the form of a memorandum of understanding. It lays the foundation for California and Brazil to work together on policies to safeguard natural resources, reduce pollution, and promote clean energy. The announcement was timed to highlight the state’s independence in pushing ahead with environmental goals, even as national policies take a different direction.
In its statement, California stressed that cooperation between subnational governments—such as states and regions—has become essential. With the federal government scaling back, state-level efforts like this one aim to keep the momentum of climate action alive.
Brazil welcomed the collaboration and called it an important step. Its environment ministry noted that action at every level, whether national or local, is needed to fight the growing challenges of climate change. Brazil is also set to host the United Nations Global Climate Conference later this year, making the timing of this announcement especially significant.
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Sharp contrast with the president’s United Nations address
The climate deal was revealed on the same day that the U.S. president delivered his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In his remarks, he called climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion.”
The president used his speech to promote what he described as “energy dominance.” He praised American oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. He also warned that nations relying heavily on renewable energy were “heading toward disaster.” His speech directly criticized the European Union’s climate policies, holding them up as examples of what to avoid.
This firm stance stood in stark opposition to California’s message. While the president celebrated fossil fuels, the state leader pushed for policies focused on cleaner energy and global cooperation. The timing created a clear contrast between the two approaches.
Adding to the tension, the president also criticized Brazil during his speech. He said the country was “doing poorly and will continue to do poorly” without strong ties to the United States. His comments drew attention because of the new partnership that was being unveiled between California and Brazil at almost the same time.
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The president later recounted a brief interaction with Brazil’s leader at the U.N. He described a short embrace, joking that they had only spoken for 39 seconds but had “excellent chemistry.” He added that they planned to meet again the following week.
Brazil emphasizes cooperation in climate action
Brazil’s government highlighted the importance of working with state-level partners in the U.S., such as California. Officials said these alliances are critical to ensure that climate action continues to progress, even when federal leadership in the United States takes a different view.
Marina Silva, Brazil’s minister of the environment and climate change, explained that the agreement is not only about protecting natural resources but also about building healthier and safer communities for people. She emphasized that the benefits of climate cooperation extend beyond borders and serve all of humanity.
The memorandum of understanding signed between California and Brazil aims to strengthen policy ties and create joint initiatives. These could include knowledge-sharing, joint research, and programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the details of the projects were not outlined in the initial announcement, both sides expressed optimism about the cooperation.
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For Brazil, this partnership also highlights its role as host of the upcoming U.N. Global Climate Conference. By aligning with California, one of the most influential U.S. states in terms of environmental policy, Brazil underscored its commitment to making the conference a meaningful platform for climate action.
The move by California demonstrates how subnational governments can play a role in shaping global issues, even when national leaders hold different views. With this partnership, both California and Brazil signal their intent to keep environmental goals on the agenda despite political divisions elsewhere.