State and Local Climate Actions Take Center Stage as Trump Returns
With President-elect Donald Trump signaling continued hostility toward efforts to address the climate crisis, the best opportunities for domestic progress in the next four years may be at the state and local levels, according to leading climate and environmental organizations. That does not mean, though, that the fight at the national level will stop, they say.
Trump’s track record in this sphere is undeniably oppositional—to start, he withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change in his first term, though his successor. Joe Biden, reversed that act upon taking office. However, Trump is reportedly preparing to again withdraw the nation from the accord. Other signs of his pro-fossil fuel stance are equally apparent, from pledging to “drill, baby, drill” to selecting fracking services CEO Chris Wright as his secretary of energy.
In this atmosphere, climate groups “will need to adapt their approaches to activism to counter the Trump administration’s opposition effectively,” said Seth Nelson, deputy communications director for Evergreen Action. “Our advocacy must emphasize state and local leadership, strengthening coalitions with governors, legislators, and grassroots organizations to enact and defend climate progress at the state and local levels. That will require expanding cross-movement solidarity—aligning with labor, environmental justice, and public health advocates to amplify our collective power.”
Earth Hero reached out to leaders of four U.S. and international climate groups to get their perspective on their mission over the next four years:
- Allie Rosenbluth, U.S. Campaign Manager, Oil Change International
- Seth Nelson, Deputy Communications Director, Evergreen Action
- KD Chavez, Executive Director, Climate Justice Alliance
- Stephen F. Eisenman, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy, Anthropocene Alliance
The following are their responses to our questions:
For climate activist organizations, what is the best target audience to continue driving emission reductions assuming the U.S. federal government is effectively out for at least four years?
**Rosenbluth: **There is so much to be done at the state and local levels, whether that’s working to end fossil fuels by getting state permits denied for a nearby pipeline, or passing policies through your city council to transition your community off gas stoves.
Trump’s election shouldn’t be taken as a reason to stop fighting for climate on the federal level. The stakes are too high for us to stop engaging on that level for the next four years. We need to continue to get fossil fuel money out of politics – especially from Democratic politicians who claim to be concerned about the climate crisis but still take donations from the fossil fuel industry. We need to work to have more and stronger congressional climate champions to block the worst of Trump’s agenda and win progress when power is back in our hands.
**Nelson: **In the absence of federal leadership, the best target audience for both countering the new administration and driving continued climate leadership is state and local governments. Both have a proven track record of advancing ambitious climate policies during federally hostile administrations, and leveraging tools like litigation and state collaboration to push back on federal efforts to move us backward on climate. States regulate key sectors like utilities, transportation, and building codes, giving them substantial control over reducing climate pollution.
By accelerating clean energy deployment, defending federal climate investments, and highlighting local benefits—such as energy cost savings and job creation—state and local governments can maintain momentum, signal U.S. commitment to global climate goals, and give us a fighting chance of hitting our climate targets. Their commitment to preserving U.S. climate leadership while aggressively holding the Trump administration accountable is essential in building a thriving clean energy future.
**Chavez: **I'm seeing three major areas of focus right now. First, we need to continue to organize collectively around safeguarding our communities every way we can at the municipal and state levels. We also need to work with our allies internationally to pressure the US on the global stage. Finally, there's also going to be the need for a lot more corporate accountability work as regulations decrease. Luckily we have some good wins recently to draw inspiration from, like the big Chevron settlement in Richmond, Calif.
Do climate organizations need to change their approaches to activism in that period in the face of the Trump administration’s opposition? If so, what new or different approaches are needed?
**Chavez: **During the last Trump administration he lit fires everywhere, and our communities rushed to put them out. He’s also been very clear about his plan to use his powers to suppress opposition. We need to be ready for that to happen by planning for this within our communities, reinforce mutual aid networks that have always served our communities when the federal government hasn’t, make sure we’re doing the self- and community-care needed to stay resilient, and focus on building new things like worker-owned cooperatives and community-owned energy projects that meet the needs of our communities.
**Nelson: **Yes, climate organizations will need to adapt their approaches to activism to counter the Trump administration’s opposition effectively. Our advocacy must emphasize state and local leadership, strengthening coalitions with governors, legislators, and grassroots organizations to enact and defend climate progress at the state and local levels. That will require expanding cross-movement solidarity—aligning with labor, environmental justice, and public health advocates to amplify our collective power.
Additionally, we’ll work to hold corporations accountable for their climate commitments while pushing for voluntary agreements that reinforce decarbonization in key sectors. Litigation, media campaigns, and public mobilization will remain essential tools to pressure state leaders, protect federal investments, and ensure progress amid federal rollbacks.
**Rosenbluth: **Under a Trump administration, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women will all face escalating attacks on their rights. Climate organizations must stand in solidarity with every community targeted by the administration, because the struggles for racial, immigrant, and gender justice are inextricably connected to the struggle for climate justice. All of our movements want the same thing—a better, more sustainable, more equitable world where all can thrive. We’ll only be able to win that world if we support each other’s struggles and build the largest possible coalition.
We also need a renewed focus on local organizing and doing the real work of base-building. To prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the climate movement needs to scale up and build power. That begins locally.
In this environment, how can individuals best contribute to efforts against climate change?
**Nelson: **In this environment, engaging in collective action is more important than ever to tackle the systemic drivers of climate change. The most effective contributions will come from organizing and pressuring leaders at every level of government to adopt ambitious climate policies. Individuals can join grassroots campaigns, support climate-focused organizations, and advocate for equitable clean energy solutions that benefit frontline communities. By amplifying their voices through collective efforts—whether pushing states to implement clean energy standards, holding corporations accountable for reducing climate pollution, or defending federal investments in climate progress—individuals can help drive systemic change at the scale needed to continue combatting the climate crisis.
**Rosenbluth: **The best thing we can do as individuals is to work collectively. Join a local organization or campaign, or start one if none exist near you. Local grassroots movements have had massive wins to stop fossil fuel expansion and transition towards a just renewable energy system even when federal support is lacking. If we get organized now, we’ll be ready to win federal climate action when the moment comes.
All of our communities are at risk from the escalating impacts of the climate crisis, such as more destructive hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Join a mutual aid project and help prepare systems of support for when disaster happens. We must build strong local networks to keep our communities safe when climate disaster strikes.
**Chavez: **We need to think in terms of both addressing climate change and building resilient communities. Find the grassroots, environmental and climate justice communities near you and join them however you can. Work to build local resilience and actualize a Just Transition that will really reduce emissions at home and around the world. By joining the fight for climate and environmental justice, you’re able to do both things at once. If you can't give time, give resources to nonprofits working on climate justice efforts.
**Eisenman: **Individual consumers have very little role in the fight against climate change. Corporations are so adept at shaping demand that consumers making private, ethical decisions about purchases, can’t impact the overall trajectory of the marketplace. Even organized consumer boycotts have only limited impact because when successful, they are subject to counter-demonstrations by opponents of change.
The only thing that will deflect the dangerous path we are on is mass organization, especially of those most affected by rising seas, floods, heat, fire, wind and other unnatural disasters: the U.S. working class, which comprises 70% of the U.S. population. Don’t agonize, organize.
There are many actions people can take to advocate on behalf of the climate and environment. Earth Hero offers a list of options here.
Download Earth Hero now to collectively address the climate crisis
