California signs partnership with Denmark focused on climate action and technology

California and Denmark have formalized a new partnership to support cooperation on climate initiatives, technology, and innovation. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Danish officials in San Francisco, marking the latest step in California’s international outreach on green economy efforts.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Governor Newsom and Denmark’s delegation led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen. The partnership aims to boost the green economy, accelerate climate resilience through shared leadership toward carbon neutrality by 2045, enhance digital and cyber resilience via policy collaboration, and strengthen innovation ecosystems by supporting public-private collaboration and research exchange.

Governor Newsom stated: “California continues to step up to the world stage. 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.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said: “Denmark is committed to expanding our partnerships around the world – also with federal states like California. We are both frontrunners within green energy, innovation, and sustainability. If we combine our efforts, we can really 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.”

The MOU outlines plans for exchanging knowledge through dialogues, delegations, trade promotions, projects, and partnerships.

This agreement follows previous international collaborations by California under Governor Newsom’s administration. In recent years, California has established similar agreements with jurisdictions including Mexico’s state of Sonora on clean energy development; a consortium of Brazilian states on pollution reduction; Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region; South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province; Sweden; Norway; China (including five separate MOUs); Australia; Canada; New Zealand; Japan; the Netherlands; Washington; Oregon; and British Columbia.

California reports progress in its climate goals. Since 2000 greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 20% while GDP grew 78%. The state ran on two-thirds clean energy in 2023—making it the largest economy worldwide at this level—and battery storage capacity has increased significantly since Governor Newsom took office.

On technology leadership, California is home to many top artificial intelligence companies globally. State initiatives include executive orders establishing responsible AI policies for government use as well as laws targeting issues such as deepfakes and AI-generated scams.