Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / Getty Images
The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, canceled his planned trip to Glasgow, Scotland , to participate in the United Nations climate change conference in a surprise announcement on Friday morning, citing “family obligations.”
“Due to family obligations, Governor Newsom will no longer travel to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 26) from 2021 and instead will participate virtually, focusing on California’s historic climate change policies, ”spokeswoman Erin Mellon wrote in a statement.
The governor’s office did not provide further details on the reason for the cancellation.
A delegation, now led by Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, will appear at the COP 26.
Fifteen lawmakers had planned to go, along with various members of the Newsom administration and First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
The governor’s office did not say Friday morning exactly who from the original list of attendees would still travel for the conference.
World leaders are gathering at the world conference in Scotland to discuss how to slow the pace of global warming.
As the leader of California , former Gov. Jerry Brown and environmental activists said Newsom would play an important role in presenting ambitious state policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a model for other governments.
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