How is Climate Advocacy Weathering Trump?

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, is underway in Brazil. While California Governor Gavin Newsom made an appearance, the U.S. government is not participating in the annual event, which comes as President Trump fires EPA staff, defunds climate research and promotes fossil fuels. At the same time, green investment is booming, and environmental advocates are optimistic about decarbonization. We’ll take stock of how climate advocacy is weathering the abdication of U.S. leadership. Guests: Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor, The Economist Camille von Kaenel, California environment reporter, Politico Manish Bapna, president and chief executive officer, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) - an international nonprofit environmental organization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:32.9	California is making its presence felt at the UN Climate Conference in Brazil, even if the U.S. is not, with the Trump administration failing to send a single representative,
0:42.9	here's Governor Gavin Newsom at the gathering known as COP 30.
0:46.3	California is two things, a reliable partner in relationship to this space.
0:54.0	I cannot say that for the United States of America,
0:58.0	particularly as it relates to the current occupant in the White House.
1:02.0	Quite the contrary.
1:03.0	But the state of California has been a consistent partner for a half century
1:08.0	and will continue to be for decades to come.
1:16.9	But recent polls find climate change impacts, despite their urgency, have fallen down the list of voter concerns. And Democrats, taking the hint, are barely talking about it, according
1:21.8	to a Washington Post tracker. Listeners, have you noticed this drop in mentions of climate change?
1:27.7	What do you think it'll take to make addressing climate change a high priority again?
1:32.2	You can post on our social channels, email forum at kQidi.org, or call us at 866733-6786.
1:40.7	Joining me first is Camille, California Environment Reporter for Politico. Camille,
1:45.7	welcome to forum. Hey, thanks for having me. Glad to have you. So the UN Climate Conference
1:51.6	goes till Friday, and it sounds like Governor Newsom got a rock star reception when he was there last
	...

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