Protesters confront Newsom with a rally near the “We’re All In” event, demanding he side with communities over fossil fuel interests
New York, NY— As Newsom sells himself as the leader to take on Trump, he’s also selling out to Big Oil. During one of the most high-profile climate moments of the year, as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Climate Week NYC, and the UN NDC Summit converge in New York, Indigenous environmental justice, community and climate justice groups gather to hold him accountable for backtracking on key climate and community health commitments, and siding with Big Oil interests.
Activists from California and across the country rallied around a building-sized banner that read, “Gov. Newsom: If you can’t take on Big Oil, how can you take on Trump?” and, “Don’t Let Big Oil Trump Your Climate Promises.”
Newsom spent years positioning himself as a climate champion. He is a co-leader of the “America Is All In” coalition, which mobilizes state and local leaders for climate action. He’s taken Big Oil to court, banned fracking, and pledged to phase out oil drilling in California. But, less than a week ago, Newsom signed SB237 — a bill he spearheaded — into law, massively expanding in-state drilling, while claiming it and other “energy affordability” bills as a climate victory.
“I have lived in a 5-mile radius of an oil refinery my entire life; I grew up in a neighborhood where kids knew the smell of sulfur, and we would play outside for hours ingesting the chemicals, unaware that playtime was poisonous,” said Starry Insixiengmay, of the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla, and the Ending Extractive Industries in Our Homelands Project Director for Sacred Places Institute For Indigenous Peoples. “Newsom made promises to protect his constituents from the polluting forces of the fossil fuel industry, but he is backsliding. Big Oil pollutes communities, the climate, and our democracy. He can’t take on Trump without taking on Big Oil.”
It’s never been more clear that Donald Trump’s agenda hinges on fossil fuel expansion, as he doubled down on extraction on the floor of the United Nations yesterday.
Last night, Newsom touted California’s climate leadership during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, without mentioning SB237, a bill that will expose nearby communities to even greater levels of fossil fuel pollutants that cause cancer, asthma, and other serious health issues.
“As Governor Newsom touts his climate record on the national and international stage, we must not let him forget that it takes more than words to be a climate leader. He must stop caving to Big Oil interests and instead act to hold Big Oil accountable and advocate for the safety of our unique and beautiful environment and our vibrant communities,” said Food & Water Watch California Director Nicole Ghio. “As President Trump slashes environmental protections and walks in lockstep with Big Oil, we need a leader — now more than ever — who will stand up for Californians and our climate.”
“We are deeply disappointed to see Governor Newsom backsliding on his own climate goals, ending his gubernatorial legacy by increasing oil drilling and locking California into outdated energy infrastructure for decades to come,” said Jasmine Vazin, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign. “It’s clear Americans are tired of politicians that betray the best interests of the working class and prioritize polluters over people.
This complete reversal on the promises Newsom made calls into question the motivations and loyalties of the governor as he moves towards a possible presidential run.”
“Governor Newsom wants to take on Trump, but he must realize that he can’t do that without also taking on the fossil fuel industry that props him up. Big Oil has gotten what they wanted from Trump, as he promised for their campaign contributions. Fossil fuels fund the rise of fascism, around the world and in the US. To truly be the leader we need for a livable future, Newsom has to do more than talk a big game, he must take real action, side with the people, not polluters, and implement a plan to get California through the energy transition.” Said Ilonka Zlatar, Climate Justice Organizer with Oil and Gas Action Network
PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AT THIS LINK. Please attribute to Loren Matthew of Associated Press for Oil and Gas Action Network.
This action was held on the ancestral homelands of the Lenape Peoples.
Climate Week NYC 2025 runs September 21–28 in New York City, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly. It brings together heads of state, business leaders, activists, and community leaders at over 900 events focused on accelerating climate actions across business, government, and civil society.”
Media Contacts:
Denise Robbins, denise@glasgowactions.com, 608-320-6582
Rebecca Stoner, rebecca.stoner@oilchangeus.org, 917-561-2607
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OGAN is a small and nimble organization that works to support grassroots and frontline movements taking action for a just world beyond fossil fuels. We train organizers to catalyze actions that build the movement capacity we need to combat the climate crisis. Learn more at oilgasaction.org
LCA LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that New York City is the traditional home of the Lenape Peoples. Part of our commitment to decolonizing ourselves, our language, and our organizations is a commitment to learning and better understanding the history of Indigenous Peoples of so-called New York, including the history of contact, colonization, and the extraction of resources from Indigenous lands, which has been part of the continuation of modern colonization.
