The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025

Donald Trump should follow our lead in California. The path we’ve taken is proven to work. Climate action goes hand in hand with economic dominance. California is the fourth largest economy in the world because of our work to move away from fossil fuels, not in spite of it. Greenhouse gas emissions in California are down 20% since 2000, even as the state’s GDP increased 78% in that same time period. 

The most expensive and dangerous option before us is doing nothing. The costs of climate change far exceed the costs of transitioning to a green, resilient economy. And not only is the Trump Administration doing nothing, it is actively working to turn the clock back on decades of progress of cleaning the air and protecting public health. 

In 2023 alone, the U.S. saw 28 separate natural disasters—fires, floods, hurricanes—each made more devastating by climate change. Those claimed more than 400 lives and cost more than $92 billion in damages. In the face of all that, the Trump Administration wants to suggest that climate change doesn’t endanger us all. Seriously? Trump is siding with polluters over science, and telling fire victims to ignore the flames, flood victims to ignore the rising water, and parents of asthmatic children to ignore their kids choking. 

That is not leadership. That is a betrayal of the American people that the federal government is duty-bound to protect. California will not stand by. We will continue to lead, because we have no choice: The lives and livelihoods of our people depend on it.

What gives you hope about the future of the planet?

California is a state of dreamers, doers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. At our best, we pride ourselves on being on the leading and cutting edge of new ideas. We’re a state where 27% of the population is foreign-born. A majority minority state. A state that’s proud to be home to the founding papers of the United Nations. We’re a pluralistic state that practices pluralism.

And we believe that our state can show the world that it’s possible to live and progress together across many imaginable differences. And that is absolutely true when it comes to tackling the defining crisis of our time: climate change.

We’re transforming our economy to run on 100% clean electricity, use 94% less oil, cut air pollution by 71%, all by 2045. At the same time, we’re reimagining transportation, leading the charge to zero-emission vehicles and building the nation’s first true high-speed rail system. And we’ve done all this while becoming the fourth largest economy in the world. We have seven times more clean energy jobs than fossil fuel jobs, and more clean energy jobs than any other state. 

Simply put: California is a model for climate action, and when we succeed, the rest of our planet succeeds. 

If you could stand up and talk to world leaders at the next COP, what would you say?

California is your stable and reliable partner. California and other climate-leading states are with you in the commitment to achieving global climate goals. 

We have been committed to building a clean and resilient future for decades. But we aren’t just making commitments anymore. This year, we ran the fourth largest economy in the world on 100% clean energy at least part of the day almost every day. We’re showing that you can do all of this while reducing carbon pollution, growing the economy, advancing water and food security, and safeguarding a livable future for our children and grandchildren. 

Our policies have increased innovation and consumer choices for clean energy and fuel; reduced risks to our economy associated with volatile global oil markets; and generated nearly $33 billion from polluters to fund climate solutions and lower clean energy costs across California. Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 will create 4 million new jobs and save Californians $200 billion in avoided health care costs. 

We are a trusted and credible climate partner that has consistently shown up on the world stage, worked with countries across the globe to reduce carbon pollution, and led coalitions of climate leaders across our country committed to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Let’s do this.