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California Governor Heads to Europe for Climate Talks

by Associated Press

   SACRAMENTO, CALIF. --

   California Governor Jerry Brown is continuing his international fight
   against climate change with an 11-day trip to Europe starting Saturday
   that includes stops at the Vatican and a U.N. conference in Germany.

   Brown is a chief adversary to Republican President Donald Trump in the
   battle over U.S. climate policy, promising to help the country reach
   its emissions reductions targets even as Trump withdraws from an
   international climate accord. He's been named the special adviser for
   states and regions at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bonn,
   Germany.

   "While the White House declares war on climate science and retreats
   from the Paris Agreement, California is doing the opposite and taking
   action," Brown said in a statement announcing the trip. "We are joining
   with our partners from every part of the world to do what needs to be
   done to prevent irreversible climate change."

   The nonprofit California State Protocol Foundation, which accepts
   donations from private businesses, pays for Brown's international
   travel. Travel for Brown's staff members will be partially covered by
   money from the nonprofit Climate Registry and the Climate Action
   Reserve, a program that deals with carbon offset projects, spokesman
   Evan Westrup said.

   Summit next year

   Brown's November trip follows visits to China and Russia earlier this
   year to promote international collaboration on climate change. Next
   year, he plans to host a summit in San Francisco.

   He will give a speech Saturday to the Vatican Pontifical Academy of
   Sciences symposium. During the week, Brown will address European
   Parliament leaders and the state parliament in Baden-Wurttemberg
   Germany, meet with representatives from national scientific academies
   and serve on several panels at the U.N. conference.

   Governors Kate Brown of Oregon, Jay Inslee of Washington and Terry
   McAuliffe of Virginia, all Democrats, will join him on a panel about
   states' roles in fighting climate change. California Senate leader
   Kevin de Leon, also a Democrat, is scheduled to speak Friday at a
   Vatican workshop on climate.

   The trip ends November 14.