Countdown to COP 30: U.S. Representation at COP

• By: AWMA
• On: 11/13/2025 11:41:39
• In: COP 30
• Comments: 0

After reading the previous post about the U.S. notification of federal withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, you may wonder how the U.S. will be represented at COP30: Amazonia, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Belém, Brazil, on November 10-21, 2025. Here is our current understanding, based on our observations, recent news reports, as well as some AI assistance while traveling.

The U.S. Climate Alliance is officially participating at COP30, though in a different capacity than traditional federal delegations. To review from the previous post, the U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors, launched in June 2017 in response to the U.S. federal government's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Alliance states are committed to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement even if the federal government does not. The Alliance currently includes 24 governors representing approximately 55% of the U.S. population and about 60% of the U.S. economy. The Alliance's targets: collectively reduce net GHG emissions at least 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, 50-52% by 2030, 61-66% by 2035, and reach net-zero emissions as soon as practicable, no later than 2050. It has committed to tracking/reporting progress, implementing state policies (carbon markets, clean energy standards, methane reduction, etc.) and collaborating across states to maintain momentum. The Alliance recently sent a letter to the UN stating they would continue America's work to achieve the Paris goals regardless.  

More than 100 U.S. local leaders (members of the U.S. Climate Alliance and other subnational leaders) are participating in COP30, including governors, mayors, and other top city and state officials. The delegation is being led by U.S. Climate Alliance Co-Chair Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, America Is All In Managing Co-Chair Gina McCarthy, and Climate Mayors Chair Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
 
While they're not the official U.S. federal delegation, these subnational leaders have received recognition from COP30 organizers. Top officials representing the U.S. Climate Alliance, Climate Mayors, C40 Cities, and America Is All In met with COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago and COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni, where U.S. leaders emphasized their continued commitment to global climate cooperation.
 
How They're Participating: California Governor Gavin Newsom, as Co-Chair of America Is All In and U.S. Climate Alliance, is expected to deliver plenary remarks, strengthen climate partnerships, and participate in fireside chats at COP30. The delegation also has access to official COP30 spaces - America Is All In will host local leaders at the We Mean Business Pavilion in Belém.

The Federal Absence: The White House confirmed it does not intend to send any high-level representatives to the summit, marking an unprecedented absence. This means that while state and local leaders are actively participating and even delivering plenary remarks, there is no official U.S. federal government delegation at COP30.

In summary: the U.S. Climate Alliance has a substantial and recognized presence at COP30, but they represent subnational governments rather than the federal government.

Ram Ramanan and Merlyn Hough, as official A&WMA observers of COP30, will be communicating back to the A&WMA members in real time through a blog that will be available to all members through the Association website. Posts from COP30 and previous COPs can be found on the A&WMA blog page at: https://www.awma.org/blog_home.asp?Category=12