Golden State Today

On the first anniversary of the region's most devastating floods, Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a new partnership with the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Both California and Emilia-Romagna are experiencing similar climate crises, including extreme weather changes from drought to flooding that affected communities last year.

Governor Newsom and Emilia-Romagna President Stefano Bonaccini discussed the significance of elections taking place globally this year and the crucial need to enhance partnerships for climate action. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by California and Emilia-Romagna outlines a three-year collaboration plan aimed at advancing clean transportation, transitioning to clean energy, practicing climate-smart agriculture, deploying nature-based solutions, and protecting air quality and biodiversity.

"In an increasingly hotter and drier world, the partnership we’re forming today will accelerate efforts to protect communities across the world – all while harnessing the innovative spirit necessary to move away from fossil fuels," said Governor Gavin Newsom.

President Stefano Bonaccini added: “Today is a historic day for Emilia-Romagna. This agreement with the government of the State of California, the fifth largest economy in the world, further strengthens the international dimension of our region, confirming our commitment to develop and share common policies with the most advanced territories in the world on key issues such as combating climate change, ecological transition and environmental protection. Thank you to Governor Newsom for following up on this collaboration that will yield important results for the benefit of our communities.”

California and Emilia-Romagna face similar climate risks such as flooding, droughts, heatwaves, and extreme weather events. Both regions have set carbon neutrality targets for 2045 and 2050 respectively along with goals for 90% and 100% clean electricity by 2035. They are also recognized as hubs for innovation and research.

Following his speech at yesterday's Vatican Climate Summit where he addressed world leaders on the urgency of the climate crisis, Governor Newsom visited Bologna. At the Vatican, he and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom met with Pope Francis.

“The Pope’s leadership and voice on climate change are a reminder to global leaders of the moral obligation to address the crisis head-on. California has and will continue to lead with partners like Emilia-Romagna because we can’t do it alone especially as vulnerable communities continue to bear the brunt of climate-related disasters,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

California's leading climate policies have enabled the state to surpass its 2020 climate target six years ahead of schedule and form partnerships across the U.S. and around the world. In recent years, California has signed MOUs with Gyeonggi Province in South Korea, Sweden, Norway, China's National Development and Reform Commission, Guangdong province, Jiangsu province, Beijing municipality, Shanghai municipality, Hainan province in China, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Netherlands as well as Washington state, Oregon state and British Columbia in an effort to combat the climate crisis.