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California Governor Gavin Newsom and Danish officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation in green economy development, technology, and innovation. The agreement, formalized at a ceremony in San Francisco, brings together California’s state government and Denmark’s delegation, led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen.
The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration across several areas, including accelerating climate resilience, achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, enhancing digital and cybersecurity capacities, and supporting innovation through public-private partnerships. The agreement also calls for exchanges of research, best practices, and policy insights through delegations, trade promotions, and collaborative projects.
“Denmark is committed to expanding our partnerships around the world – also with federal states like California,” Rasmussen said. “We are both frontrunners within green energy, innovation, and sustainability. If we combine our efforts, we can push forward – not only for our own economies and societies, but also by inspiring others to pursue a green transition that creates jobs and growth at the same time.”
Governor Newsom highlighted California’s role as a global leader in technology and clean energy. “California continues to step up on the world stage,” he said. “We are partnering with Denmark to further our commitment to building affordable clean energy, bolstering our low-carbon, green growth economies, fostering innovation, and accelerating safe and secure technologies. Our message to the rest of the world is clear: California is a stable, reliable partner.”
The MOU builds on a series of international agreements signed by the Newsom administration. Since 2022, California has entered climate and technology partnerships with jurisdictions in Canada, New Zealand, Japan, China, the Netherlands, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, and Mexico. Most recently, the state launched the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP) at COP 28 to support adaptation to climate impacts. In 2023, California signed five agreements in China and established the first joint declaration with Chinese authorities on climate action, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy.
State officials note that California has made measurable progress in reducing pollution while growing its economy. Greenhouse gas emissions in the state have declined 20% since 2000, while the economy expanded 78%. In 2023, California generated approximately two-thirds of its electricity from clean energy sources and ran on 100% clean electricity for parts of the day on numerous occasions. Battery storage capacity has increased to over 15,000 megawatts, marking a more than 1,900% rise since the beginning of the Newsom administration.
In technology, California continues to lead the global artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The state is home to 32 of the 50 top AI companies worldwide and has implemented policies to promote responsible AI deployment. Governor Newsom has signed executive orders and legislation establishing guardrails for AI procurement, transparency, and ethical use, while also supporting research on frontier AI models. State initiatives are applying AI to improve highway safety, reduce congestion, and enhance public services.
The agreement with Denmark reflects a broader trend of subnational governments partnering internationally to address climate change and innovation. Both California and Denmark have identified clean energy, low-carbon economic growth, and technology as areas where cooperation can yield mutual benefits while setting an example for other regions.