The US-Latin America climate pact took a major step forward at COP30 as California signed new agreements with Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, strengthening cross-border cooperation.

The US-Latin America climate pact gained momentum during California’s participation at COP30, where Governor Gavin Newsom led a state delegation focused on turning climate commitments into action. The agreements reflect California’s long-standing approach of working directly with regions facing shared environmental risks, regardless of shifts in national politics.

As climate impacts intensify, the climate pact highlights how subnational governments are assuming leadership roles. Methane emissions, biodiversity loss, and wildfire risk cross borders with ease, demanding cooperation that moves faster than traditional diplomacy. California’s agreements aim to do just that by sharing technology, policy experience, and data-driven solutions.

Colombia’s partnership with California centers on forest conservation and methane reduction, two priorities closely linked to protecting the Amazon ecosystem. California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot signed the memorandum with Colombia’s Environment Minister Irene Vélez. The agreement targets methane emissions from agriculture, waste, and energy systems while supporting sustainable economic development tied to biodiversity protection.

Chile joined the climate pact through a separate agreement focused on methane management. Methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide over short timeframes, making rapid reductions one of the most effective ways to slow near-term warming. California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez signed the memorandum, which establishes information-sharing systems to compare policies, technologies, and enforcement strategies across borders.

Brazil’s role in the US-Latin America climate pact includes two distinct collaborations. One agreement with Brazil’s federal government focuses on innovation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in public management, recognizing the growing role of digital tools in climate governance. A second agreement with the state of Pará addresses wildfire prevention and response, drawing on California’s experience managing increasingly extreme fire seasons.

That partnership strengthens forest monitoring systems designed to identify high-risk conditions before fires spread. California contributes research expertise and firefighting strategies developed through decades of wildfire response, while Pará offers critical insights into tropical forest dynamics.

Adaptation emerged as a central theme alongside mitigation throughout the US-Latin America climate pact discussions. COP30 established a global goal to triple adaptation finance by 2030, acknowledging that many communities already face the impacts of climate change. California’s partnerships reflect that balance, combining emissions reduction with strategies that help regions adapt to heat, drought, and wildfire.

Indigenous leadership also played an important role. California Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari met with Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge supports forest stewardship and biodiversity protection. These exchanges reinforce the idea that climate solutions are strongest when they include communities with deep connections to the land.

The US-Latin America climate pact highlights Indigenous leadership, showing how shared knowledge between communities strengthens forest stewardship and biodiversity protection. Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

The new agreements build on California’s expanding international climate network. The state maintains partnerships across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America, addressing issues from sustainable transportation to data center decarbonization. California also co-chairs the U.S. Climate Alliance and the America Is All In coalitions, while the Under2 Coalition, founded with Baden-Württemberg, Germany, now represents jurisdictions covering more than 1.75 billion people.

For the US-Latin America climate pact to succeed, implementation will be key. Each agreement establishes working groups responsible for coordinating projects, tracking progress, and adjusting strategies over time. Success will be measured not by signed documents, but by reduced methane emissions, healthier forests, and cleaner energy systems.

Clean energy deployment is already accelerating across Latin America, driven by the region’s abundant solar, wind, and hydropower resources. California’s experience integrating renewables into its grid offers valuable lessons on storage, reliability, and policy design. In return, Latin American partners contribute expertise in biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.

Transportation cooperation is another growing focus. Zero-emission vehicles reduce both climate pollution and local air contaminants that harm public health. Shared standards for charging infrastructure and fleet electrification could help cities across the Americas transition faster to cleaner mobility.

The US-Latin America climate pact positions California as a stable partner for long-term climate cooperation. These agreements operate independently of national election cycles, providing consistency for planning and investment as climate risks intensify.

Looking ahead, officials suggest the network could expand to include additional Latin American countries. Regional cooperation creates economies of scale, which lower costs and accelerate the adoption of climate solutions.

Ultimately, the US-Latin America climate pact signed at COP30 demonstrates that meaningful climate progress does not depend on waiting for national governments to act. By connecting regions across continents, these partnerships provide a practical path toward protecting ecosystems, strengthening economies, and building a more resilient future for the climate.