KQED's Forum How is Climate Advocacy Weathering Trump?
Nov 19, 2025
Camille von Kaenel, a California environment reporter for Politico, discusses Governor Gavin Newsom's impactful role at COP30. Manish Bapna, President of the NRDC, addresses the political rollback of climate policies under Trump and advocates for grassroots organizing. Vijay Vaitheeswaran from The Economist analyzes economic trends in clean energy and the international backlash against climate initiatives. Together, they explore the paradox of rising green investments amid U.S. leadership vacuums, highlighting innovative solutions and the importance of local support.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Newsom's COP30 Media Moment
- Camille von Kaenel described Governor Gavin Newsom drawing intense media attention and crowds at COP30 during his first visit.
- He signed nonbinding pacts, including a methane-monitoring satellite data deal with Chile, to amplify California's influence.
Economics Are Driving Decarbonization
- Vijay Vaitheeswaran argues the politics around climate have become more fraught globally, but economics favor clean energy.
- Solar, wind and batteries are now cheaper than coal or gas in many places, driving decarbonization by market forces.
Fix Permits To Speed Clean Energy
- Manish Bapna urges focus on permitting reform because deployment speed, not technology cost, now limits clean energy growth.
- He warns the system currently makes clean projects harder to build than fossil projects and must change.