Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a strengthened climate partnership with the United Kingdom, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband to deepen cooperation on clean energy and sustainable development.
The announcement was followed by a meeting with UK clean-tech company Octopus Energy, which pledged nearly $1 billion in investments for California projects focused on clean energy, carbon removal, and nature-based solutions.
“California is the best place in America to invest in a clean economy because we set clear goals and we deliver,” Newsom said. “Today, we deepened our partnership with the United Kingdom on climate action and welcomed nearly a billion dollars in clean-tech investment from Octopus Energy.”
Octopus Energy Generation CEO Zoisa North-Bond highlighted California’s strong policy framework and entrepreneurial ecosystem as ideal for long-term investment that benefits both California and the UK economy. The UK government described the partnership as part of its broader mission to cut energy costs, create jobs, and tackle climate change.
Newsom also met with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy to explore expanded collaboration in climate, trade, and business. The California-UK agreement builds on a growing network of international partnerships, including deals with Chile, Colombia, Nigeria, Brazil, Australia, China, Denmark, and Canadian provinces, covering areas such as methane reduction, forest conservation, zero-emission energy, and climate adaptation.
California’s climate leadership extends to global coalitions, including the Under2 Coalition, the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, and the Subnational Methane Action Coalition. Domestically, Newsom co-chairs the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance and the America Is All In coalition, working with states, cities, tribal nations, and businesses to advance climate goals.
Under Newsom’s administration, California has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21% since 2000 levels while growing its economy by 81% over the same period. Battery storage has surged to nearly 17,000 megawatts, and in 2023, the state was powered by two-thirds clean energy.
President Trump reacted to the California-U.K. deal by questioning whether a state should enter international climate partnerships, calling the deal “inappropriate” and saying the U.K. “shouldn’t be dealing with” Newsom on climate policy. California officials defended the partnership, citing the state’s track record of delivering measurable emissions
