BELEM, Brazil - With US President Donald Trump skipping the UN’s climate summit in the Amazon, California Governor Gavin Newsom grabbed the spotlight on Nov 11 and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the fossil fuel agenda of his political nemesis.

The well-coiffed Democrat – seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate – blasted Mr Trump for twice leaving the Paris climate accord and for “doubling down on stupid” through his support of Big Oil.