CGTN interview with Governor of California on climate change and clean energy

By CGTN’s Su Yuting, Hu Ying

Governor of California Jerry Brown is currently in Beijing to strengthen the Golden State's climate, clean energy and economic ties with China.

Brown told CGTN that Tuesday’s meeting with President Xi Jinping has resulted in fruitful outcomes, saying that California and China had signed a memorandum of understanding.

CGTN’s Su Yuting sits down with California Governor Jerry Brown to discuss joint efforts by China and California to solve climate-related issues / CGTN Photo

“Chinese companies are selling batteries and zero-emission vehicles into California and collaborating with California companies, working with university scientists on innovative technology. The big threat of climate change requires accelerated efforts, by business, by science, and by government. California is being very committed to clean energy,” he added.

Brown emphasized: “As I spoke with President Xi, he encouraged me to work at the subnational level. He really appreciates how important it is. So there is the top – the leaders of the countries, and there are also governors, regional party secretaries, and businesses, and scientists, I am trying to mobilize all these as much as I can to get a more robust and vigorous response to climate change."

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with visiting California Governor Jerry Brown of United States at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 6, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Brown has vowed to resist US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris agreement on climate change.

During the interview, Brown reiterated his stance, saying “Trump’s decision is not very wise”.

“The world is facing the threat of climate change, which will make it harder to grow and produce food, which will raise the sea level, which will increase diseases that come from tropical climate. All that is a threat. Well, I call it an essential threat. So walking away from the Paris agreement is unthinkable. This is not a political game, by which you make your political supporters happy. We should work together to reduce greenhouse gases and therefore, make the threat not really happen,” he said.

Erosion eats away at the tip of the Uppards in an area called Canaan in Tangier, Virginia, where climate change and rising sea levels threaten the inhabitants of the slowly sinking island. /VCG Photo

Brown also praised China’s efforts in dealing with climate change. He said the Paris accord is a major next step but is not enough. “We have to go beyond that, that's what California is attempting to do by working with various provincial governments in China and in other parts of the world.”