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California Governor Gavin Newsom met with a delegation from the Mexican state of Sonora to establish a new subnational alliance focused on clean air and energy. The meeting, held at the historic Stanford Mansion in Sacramento, reinforced both states’ commitment to addressing climate challenges through cross-border collaboration.
Governor Newsom welcomed Sonora’s Governor, Alfonso Durazo Montaño, for a bilateral meeting that culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement formalizes four years of collaboration between California and Sonora in advancing clean energy development, strengthening supply chain resilience, and expanding access to renewable energy.
“Despite the border that divides us, California and Sonora share the common challenge of adapting to a warmer, drier world,” Newsom said. “We are also united in our commitment to real solutions. Today’s alliance strengthens our efforts to clean the air and expand access to clean energy.”
Governor Durazo emphasized the shared economic and environmental goals between the two regions.
“Sonora and California share a border and challenges,” Durazo said. “Today, we establish an agreement with this state, a leader in economic growth and climate action, to join forces in ensuring families live in a prosperous region with a better environment and technological development. Sonora contributes its vast desert and the talent of its people to create a better region.”
The agreement with Sonora is the latest in a series of international partnerships California has forged to address climate change. In recent years, the state has pursued global cooperation on environmental policies through agreements with regions worldwide. These include a recent alliance with 21 Brazilian states to combat pollution and promote sustainable economic growth, as well as a 2023 memorandum with Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region during the Vatican Climate Summit. California also signed a 2023 agreement with South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province, a key economic and high-tech hub, and entered into five memorandums with China during Governor Newsom’s delegation visit. These agreements involved the National Development and Reform Commission and major provinces and cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Jiangsu, culminating in a joint declaration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition away from fossil fuels, and accelerate clean energy development.
Further expanding its climate partnerships, California launched the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP) at COP28 to support rapid adaptation to climate impacts. In 2023, the state also signed agreements with Australia and China’s Hainan Province. The previous year, California established climate cooperation agreements with Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Additionally, the state renewed its climate action commitments with Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia to strengthen regional environmental initiatives. Through these efforts, California continues to position itself as a global leader in climate action and sustainable development.