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United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30)

November 10, 2025 – November 21, 2025

The Climate Registry lead a delegation of diverse leaders from U.S. states, local jurisdictions and the private sector to COP30. As host of the U.S. States’ Action on Climate (USA Climate) Pavilion, we presented events and activities that supported and highlighted the importance of subnational climate policy, ambition, and the innovative power of public-power partnerships in North America.

For more information on COP30, check out the UNFCCC’s website.

For a summary of COP30 negotiation outcomes as well as insights from the Blue Zone, please read our blog.

USA Climate Pavilion Program

Hosted by The Climate Registry, the USA Climate Pavilion is the COP30 home base for U.S. subnational, nonprofit, and corporate leaders. We were pleased to open up our pavilion space to partners and members of our COP delegation to host their own events during the conference as a unique opportunity to showcase their work, engage with global stakeholders and contribute to the dialogue on climate action. See below for a list of events and links to the recordings.

November 10

During this press conference, Senator Becker will provide introductory comments, followed by a discussion moderated by Amy Holm, Executive Director of The Climate Registry. The discussion will be followed by audience Q&A.

Location: Room 2, Area D of the Blue Zone at COP30

November 11

Panel Sponsors: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Edison International, United Airlines

The California legislature recently passed landmark climate bills that will secure billions in community investment, lower energy costs, strengthen grid reliability, and protect over 550,000 clean energy jobs. This bold state-level leadership reinforces California’s role as a national clean energy innovator, showing how state action can drive progress even amid federal setbacks. In 2025, California is showing what U.S. climate and clean energy leadership looks like.

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) will host a conversation which will explore major 2025 legislative wins—like Cap & Invest and Western Grid Regionalization—plus what lies ahead in 2026 and strategies for advancing climate progress amid federal uncertainty.

Speakers:

Michael Swords, VP Government and International Relations, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) (Moderator)
Josh Becker, Senator, California State Senate
Caroline Choi, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Edison International/Southern California Edison
Henry Stern, Senator, California State Senate

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Senator Josh Becker, Chair of the California Senate Energy committee will be interviewed by Allison Hilliard, Legislative Manager at The Climate Center about what California is doing to address the challenge of getting to 100% clean energy while keeping electricity rates affordable. They will discuss major legislation in the legislature in the last year on affordability, virtual power plants, distributed energy resources, developing regional electricity markets, and how California’s example may be relevant in other countries.

Speakers:

Josh Becker, Senator, California State Senate
Allison Hilliard, Legislative Manager, The Climate Center

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

The panelists will present on the impact of the California wildfires, the response at the local government and state government levels, lessons learned, and best practices.

Speakers:

Honorable Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico
Honorable Lynda Hopkins, Chair, Bay Area Air District Board of Directors and Chair, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Caroline Choi, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Edison International/Southern California Edison
Honorable Josh Becker, Senator, California State Senate

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

November 12

In 2024, California adopted landmark carbon disclosure legislation (SB219, amending SB253 and SB261 adopted in 2023) requiring companies with >$1 billion in revenue that do business in California to annually report their GHG emissions and companies with >$500m in revenue to report climate risks every other year. In this session, California legislators share California’s steps to turn this groundbreaking law into action. Companies discuss the programs, opportunities, challenges and impact behind this key initiative to ensure that accurate, comparable, and decision-useful climate information is useful to galvanize decarbonization efforts.

Speakers:
Amy Holm, Executive Director, The Climate Registry (Moderator)
Henry Stern, California State Senator
Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director, Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies
Jake Oster, Director of Sustainability and Energy Policy, Amazon

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Join for a series of conversations about technologies that are driving deep emissions cuts across industry, buildings, and transportation. Hear from four industry leaders on key technologies to watch – including industrial decarbonization, renewable fuels, battery storage, and methane abatement. As countries chart pathways for the future of the energy transition, this event will provide stakeholders and advocates with a better understanding of the solutions at our disposal and what is needed for further deployment.

Speakers:

Laura Tierney, Vice President, International Policy, Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) (Moderator)
Lisa Wee, Chief Sustainability Officer, AVEVA
Carlos Garcia, Head of Methane Markets, STX Group
Julia Souder, Chief Executive Officer, Long Duration Energy Storage Council
Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director, Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

November 13

This panel will bring together business executives to explore how grid modernization can accelerate emissions reductions, enhance resilience, and expand opportunity. Panelists will examine how today’s investments in innovation, efficiency, digitalization, and distributed energy can help optimize the grid we have – while building the clean, flexible, and affordable system we need for tomorrow. By aligning economic growth with decarbonization, we can create an energy future that supports good jobs, community well-being, and climate progress. Together, we’ll explore what it takes to power prosperity and deliver a net-zero future for all.

Speakers:

Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) (Moderator)
Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director, Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies
Ângelo Rocha de Oliveira, Brazil Chapter President, Association of Energy Engineers
Louise Clark-White, International Sustainability Senior Manager, National Grid

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Watch the recording

The update of Chile’s 2025-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) establishes an ambitious framework that requires unprecedented mobilization from the private sector. Nature-based Solutions are an opportunity to mobilize climate action towards adaptation, in complement to mitigation. The experience of Chilean and regional companies in mitigation and adaptation, and in the integration of both, is relevant across three pillars:

  1. Water resilience (Adaptation)
  2. Transport decarbonization (Mitigation)
  3. The role of the LULUCF sector (Integration)

Speakers:

María Teresa Ruiz-Tagle, Directora Ejecutiva de CLG Chile (Moderator)
Margarita Ducci, Pacto Global, en representación de “Unidos por la Acción Climática” (Chile)
María Julia Arana, coordinadora estratégica de la Alianza Unidos por la Acción Climática
Johanna Cabrera Hernandez, Gerente de Sostenibilidad en LATAM Airlines Group
Felipe Sanchez, Subgerente de Sostenibilidad de Aguas Andinas
Carlos Altimiras, Director Presidente de Arauco Brasil
Joaquín Paredes, Asesor de Comunidades, Alianzas e Incidencia de Sistema B

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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This session explores how universities and professional organizations are advancing climate resilience and partnerships through research, education, and collaboration. It examines how these institutions can co-produce knowledge, build workforce capacity, and translate science into actionable strategies for sustainable and equitable climate resilience. This one-hour panel will feature an open discussion with the audience. Guided questions will help panelists highlight how universities and professional organizations are advancing climate resilience through research, education, collaboration, and outreach.

Speakers:

Esther Oyedele, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
Prof. Laura Schmitt Olabisi, Department of Community Sustainability, Environmental Science & Policy Program, Michigan State University, United States of America
Avekra Yerneni, Undergraduate Senior, Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, Virginia Tech, United States of America
Calla Inman, Undergraduate Senior, Department of Geography, Virginia Tech, United States of America
Sam Sappenfield, Undergraduate Junior, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, United States of America
Christine Shields, Scientist, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, United States of America
Mark Shimamoto, Vice President of Global Outreach & Partnership, American Geophysical Union, United States of America

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Watch the recording

November 14

Low- and middle-income countries are crucial markets for U.S. farmers and now account for two-thirds of U.S. agricultural export destinations. However, smallholder farmers, who make up the bulk of the agriculture in these countries, are struggling to adapt to climate-related challenges. They lack the necessary innovation and tools, resulting in lost productivity and income, which ultimately slows economic development and long-term market potential.

The U.S. has long been a world leader in the agriculture sector, due to early, significant investments in agricultural research and innovation that have historically catalyzed global advances in crop production, efficiency, and trade, and helped farmers adapt to extreme weather and disease shocks. However, public investments in international and domestic agricultural research have stagnated in recent years. Today, a multitude of challenges – including pest and disease outbreaks such as New World screwworm and avian influenza, volatile weather, increasing export competition, and higher input costs – are now jeopardizing both American farmers’ livelihoods and global food and nutrition security.

Speakers will discuss investments in agricultural innovation as a powerful engine of economic growth and how these investments can help expand and diversify trade opportunities for U.S. producers. We will also discuss the critical role of innovation in helping farmers adapt to climate-related challenges and reduce sector emissions. Finally, the panel will provide examples of investments that aim to create new market opportunities and income streams for U.S. farmers by extending beyond traditional food and feed markets into renewable materials, fuels, and other biobased products that strengthen rural economies while supporting global climate and sustainability goals.

Speakers:

Rose Barbuto, Senior Adviser, Farm Journal Foundation (Moderator)
James Glueck Jr., Executive Director, Plant Based Products Council
Sieg Snapp, Program Director, Sustainable Agrifood Systems Program (SAS), CGIAR
Eric Mittenthal, Chief Strategy Officer; the Meat Institute
Maddie Hokanson, Minnesota Pork Board of Directors Member

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Watch the recording

November 15

Hear U.S. clean tech executives and state officials discuss how they are working to align a complex matrix of priorities, including rising energy demand, energy affordability, economic development, and investment in climate action.

Speakers will explore how artificial intelligence can strengthen forecasting and grid management, accelerate the deployment of clean energy, and drive greater adoption of energy efficiency. The discussion will also examine the role of public policy and the new forms of partnerships between government, industry, and communities needed to build the energy system of tomorrow.

Speakers:

Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) (Moderator)
Julia Souder, Chief Executive Officer, Long Duration Energy Storage Council
Sophie Miremadi, Vice President, Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, AVEVA
Gabrielle Peterson, Global Director, Content and Communications, International Copper Association
James Glueck, Executive Director, Plant Based Products Council
Sandy Grace, Vice President, U.S. Policy & Regulatory Strategy, National Grid

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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November 17

Focus will be on California and Brazil efforts to move from climate goal setting to implementation of nature-based climate solutions goals and inclusion of indigenous communities and knowledge.

Speakers:
Laura Crane, Director California Climate Program, The Nature Conservancy (Moderator)
Jason Gray, Project Director, Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force
Mailza Gomes, Vice Governor of Acre
Karen Ross, California Secretary for Department of Food and Agriculture
Christina Snider-Ashtari, California Secretary for Tribal Affairs
Marco Lagos, Rondônia Secretary for Environmental Development (SEDAM)
Francisca Arara, Acre Secretary for Secretariat of Indigenous Peoples

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Advanced Geothermal Energy Systems (AGES) have the potential to provide a very low greenhouse gas (GHG) baseload energy resource almost indefinitely. AGES, including Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems (CLGS), are generating enthusiasm for their potential to revolutionize clean energy. These systems aim to overcome the geographic limitations of conventional geothermal, which relies on naturally occurring reservoirs near the Earth’s surface of heat, fluid, and permeable rock.

AGES are a perfect complement to solar and wind resources and may be the replacement for natural gas as utilities search for baseload power driven by data center development. As these systems are developed, the wrongs of the past must not be repeated. Potentially impacted communities must be robustly engaged in decision making early in the process to ensure local benefits and environmental protection.

Speaker: Barry Vesser, Chief Program Officer, The Climate Center

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Representatives from U.S. states discuss opportunities and actions that they are taking to advance clean energy, decarbonization, resiliency, and healthy communities in the absence of federal support for climate related programs.

Speakers:
Amy Holm, Executive Director, The Climate Registry
Travis Kellerman, Senior Policy Advisor Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources
Department of New Mexico
Rep. Andrea Romero, New Mexico House of Representatives (D-46)
Aaron Ordower, Environmental Deputy, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath

Location: Press Conference Room 2, Area D, Blue Zone

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Chile and other Latin America countries lead in renewable electricity, but the total energy matrix remains fossil-fuel dependent. This panel will analyze structural barriers and propose policies to enable demand electrification. Key topics include enabling infrastructure, lowering user costs, binding social governance, and regional cooperation.

Speakers:
María Teresa Ruiz-Tagle, Executive Director, CLG-Chile (Moderator)
Viviane Romeiro, Director of Climate, Energy and Sustainable Finance, CEBDS (Brazil)
Gregory Briner, Senior Manager of the Policy Team, We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC)
Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment
Ricardo Pineda Guzmán, Executive Director, Sustenta Honduras

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Global carbon disclosure standards and protocols provide various methods to reach their goals, and they are quickly evolving to satisfy the increasing need for transparent, comparable, and decision-useful climate data.

This session brings together leaders from key carbon disclosure programs and reporting institutions to discuss recent progress toward harmonization and interoperability among methodologies worldwide. It also explores how shared principles and collaboration can reduce reporting burdens, improve data quality, and speed up climate actions across markets and sectors. Additionally, it will cover priorities, future developments, and opportunities for harmonizing methodologies and efforts to support global climate action.

Speakers:
Richard Saines, Managing Director, Arden Climate (Moderator)
Alissa Benchimol, Project Manager, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute
Belinda Mathers, Chief Science and Advisory Officer, Toitū Envirocare
Verónica Lizana, VP of Corporate Affairs, SCX Santiago Climate Exchange
Craig Hanson, Managing Director of Programs, World Resources Institute
Zakiah Kassam, Chair of ISO Technical Committee on Environmental Management

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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State and local officials, businesses and institutions are essential to decarbonization and resilience. Working together to build climate-smart infrastructure and systems, leaders will share policy, finance and implementation strategies to reduce emissions, protect communities and create economic opportunities.

Co-hosted by: The Climate Registry (TCR), Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Georgetown University, and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Speakers:

Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle
Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom
Andrea Romero, Representative, New Mexico House of Representatives
Alice Reynolds, President, California Public Utilities Commission

Location: Blue Zone at COP30 – Side Event Room 3

November 18

This event will explore how US states and local climate leadership can inspire and collaborate with international partners to advance climate goals. Highlighting shared goals between climate-ambitious US states, such as California, and India’s Sikh-led reforestation movement, the session will examine how faith, culture, and subnational action drive environmental stewardship and large-scale tree planting initiatives.

Speakers:

Jasdev Singh Rai, Director, Sikh Human Rights Group
Odudu-Abasi Asuquo, Ecological justice advocate
Jagroop Singh, International Officer, Nishan-e-Sikhi Charitable Trust
Juan Matías Schüttenberg, Artist and global solutions researcher

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Watch the recording

In December 2024, the United States submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), committing to a 61–66% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. Achieving this goal depends heavily on the leadership of U.S. states in implementing ambitious policies to decarbonize their economies, accelerate clean energy adoption, and build climate resilience.

This session brings together senior state leaders to discuss how subnational actions are advancing national progress under the US NDC. Panelists will showcase strategies that reduce emissions while creating jobs, supporting communities, and laying the groundwork for a fair and sustainable net-zero future.

Speakers:

Trigg Talley, former U.S. Head of Delegation to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement (Moderator)
Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Programs, Department of Environment and Conservation
Sarah Swig, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor on Climate, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom
Travis Kellerman, Senior Policy Advisor, Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources
Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Across the globe, First Nations have long been guardians of the land, water, and ecosystems that support life. Their traditional knowledge and community-led governance offer proven strategies for resilience, adaptation, and environmental stability. Yet, these approaches are often overlooked or undervalued in global climate discussions.

This session highlights Indigenous voices and supporting organizations working alongside them from various regions, sharing traditional ecological knowledge, community-led climate solutions, and pathways toward a fair and inclusive transition. Panelists will explore the wisdom rooted in ancient practices, connecting it with modern innovation and policy to promote sustainable futures for both people and the planet.

The conversation will also explore ways to link Indigenous leadership with global climate action networks, making sure that equity, justice, and cultural integrity stay central to the world’s climate response.

Speakers:
Yobel Novian Putra, Climate Program Officer, GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) (Moderator)
Janelle Lapointe, Stellat’en First Nation in BC, Canada
Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom
Damir Prado, Chilwe Kimun, Chile
Tubagus Soleh Ahmadi, WALHI, Indonesia
Francisca Arara, Secretary of Indigenous Affairs of Acre, Brazil

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Across the Americas, countries, states, and organizations are redefining regional cooperation on climate action. As the United States adjusts its role in hemispheric collaboration, a new model is emerging, bringing both challenges and opportunities for forming alliances among governments, businesses, and civil society.

This session will showcase how structured collaboration, public-private partnerships, business-to-business cooperation, and cross-border alliances can drive decarbonization and enhance climate resilience across the region. Using specific examples from Canada, the Caribbean, Brazil, Chile, and the U.S., speakers will demonstrate how coordinated efforts and shared platforms are vital for overcoming obstacles, fostering innovation, and making meaningful climate progress in the Western Hemisphere.

Speakers:
María Teresa Ruiz-Tagle, Executive Director, CLG-Chile (Moderator)
Una May Gordon, Board Co-Chair, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Jean Lemire, Envoy for Climate Change and Northern and Arctic Affairs, Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie, Québec
Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Watch the recording

At BCSE and The Climate Registry’s press briefing at COP 30, senior executives from BCSE’s delegation spoke on their company’s commitments to climate action and the progress of investment and technology deployment that is advancing the energy transition. They were be joined by U.S. policymakers to share progress made on climate action at the state and local level.

Speakers:
Mounir Boemond, Global Director, Sustainability Value Lead, AVEVA
Bob Hinkle, Founder and President, Metrus Energy
Travis Kellerman, Senior Policy Advisor, Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department of New Mexico
Aaron Ordower, Environment Deputy, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, California
Andrea Romero, New Mexico House of Representatives (D-46)

Location: Press Conference 2, Area D, Blue Zone

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The solutions won’t come from negotiation text, but from everyday citizens. Join sustainability pioneer Hunter Lovins for an inspiring dialogue on how storytelling can shatter the sense of insignificance and mobilize a global network of “climate heroes.” Learn how sharing local, grassroots success stories reveals our collective power and accelerates the massive action the world needs.

Speakers:
Hunter Lovins, Co-Founder, COPx
Rich Wilson, Co-Founder, The Global Citizens Assembly
Laura Lopez, Former Director Conference Affairs, UNFCCC

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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November 19

New Mexico (NM) is perched upon a nexus of a $68B endowment, historical funding directed into the wellbeing of its people, and an eager vision for its future. As it endeavors into its future advanced energy economy, it cares about how it pursues it. NM values its culture, history, and environmental future and assesses future projects in that manor. What can we expect from this southwestern marvel of endless climate mitigation potential?

Speakers:

Travis Kellerman, Senior Policy Advisor, Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources
Andrea Romero, Representative, New Mexico House of Representatives

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Over 100 U.S. leaders travelled to Brazil with one message: the U.S. is still in. Across the country, U.S. leaders are pressing forward on clean energy and are eager to cooperate with international partners on ambitious climate action. This event will highlight examples of climate action and ambition that continue despite facing federal headwinds.

Speakers:

Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy (Moderator)
Gina McCarthy, Managing Co-Chair, America Is All In (Recorded Message)
Todd Stern, High-Level Champion, America Is All In
Sarah Swig, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor on Climate, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom
Nate Hultman, Director of the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland
Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle
Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director, Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies
Trigg Talley, Special Representative, America Is All In

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

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Join us for a timely discussion on the critical role of U.S. higher education in climate action and governance, as well as ways of synergizing academia with UNFCCC processes. The panel will also highlight key recommendations to improve the sustainability, governance, and accessibility of COPs from a manifesto produced by students from 50+ universities across 5 continents.

Speakers:

Sahana Kaur, COP30 Manifesto Lead, Yale Student Environmental Coalition (Moderator)
Megan Chen, Graduate Student, Stanford University
Phoenix Boggs, COP30 Delegate, Yale Student Environmental Coalition
Alexia Massoud, Journalism and International Affairs Student, George Washington University
Imane Darkaoui, Co-Leader, Middlebury College COP30 Delegation
Sophie Holtzman, Research Assistant/Graduate Student, George Washington University Sustainability Research Institute

Location: Blue Zone – USA Climate Pavilion (E180), presented by The Climate Registry

Watch the recording

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