Golden State Today

LARKSPUR – In a significant move towards combating climate change, California and Norway have come together to form a new climate partnership. Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed a delegation from Norway led by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon. The collaboration was solidified with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, a symbolic location known for its clean hydrogen fuel cell passenger ferries.

The MOU signifies four years of cooperation between the two entities focusing on clean energy, zero-emission transportation, ports, carbon removal, and climate-smart agriculture. Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of this partnership by stating, "From Oakland to Oslo, we’ve seen the worsening impacts of the climate crisis firsthand. But we also know that these challenges bring a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our economies to work for everyone. That’s why California and Norway – world leaders on climate action – are joining forces to tackle the crisis of our time together."

Norway’s Minister of Trade, Jan Christian Vestre, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, “Norway’s excellent relations with the US, and with California, go way back. But today we are taking it a step further, teaming up to accelerate the pace of the green transition. This MOU will formalize our cooperation in several areas where we share the same goals, where our policies and ambitions for net-zero solutions overlap and where our industries and expertise – our opportunities and needs – complement each other.”

The joint statement signed by the delegations highlighted the new areas of climate collaboration, existing work on economic development, and continued partnership on criminal justice and prison reform. This collaboration adds to California's series of partnerships with various countries in recent years to address climate change and promote sustainable practices.