Climate advocates and experts say President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 win is a loss in the fight to combat the climate crisis, pointing to various campaign promises like pushing for more fossil fuel production and a dislike for renewables. In his first term Trump also pulled the U.S. out of .
So what are local environmental advocates thinking in the days since his reelection?
鈥淚'm hoping that this will be a wake-up call for 黑料新闻,鈥� said Dr. Mark Mitchell, co-chair of the 黑料新闻 Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council. 鈥淭his is when state actions become even more important.鈥�
黑料新闻 is not meeting its greenhouse gas reduction goals, and has continued to see its own share of climate impacts 鈥� from warmer winters and devastating summer flooding to extreme heat and poor air quality exacerbated by wildfires.
A state-level push
Trump鈥檚 reelection comes during a drought in 黑料新闻 and as wildfires have burned across large portions of the state and region. It also comes on the heels of several years of sluggish environmental policymaking at the state Capitol.
For local advocates, the election results have set off a cascade of emotions.
鈥淚鈥檓 still trying to process everything that's happened over the last couple days.鈥� said Maebel Haynes, president of the advocacy group Sunrise 黑料新闻. 鈥淓nvironmental issues, I think, are a thing that a lot of young people are acutely aware of.鈥�
Lori Brown, president of the 黑料新闻 League of Conservation Voters, recalled the silence that fell for a day when the results of the presidential election were announced.
鈥淏ut just a day,鈥� Brown said, because then emails between different local climate advocacy groups started flying, tackling the next question: 鈥淲hat鈥檚 next?鈥�
A major part of that: doubling down on efforts in the next state legislative session, such as policies that will benefit 黑料新闻鈥檚 environment, energy sector and climate goals. Advocates pointed to policy expanding energy efficiency along with efforts to make 黑料新闻 more resilient to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
But state-level climate action has lagged in recent years, Brown said, with 黑料新闻鈥檚 General Assembly not passing significant climate legislation this past session or the .
Meanwhile, Haynes said Sunrise 黑料新闻 will continue its work of teaching young people about the importance (and minutiae) of state policy.
Concerns about renewable energy
Among other concerns is what will happen to the federal push for solar, offshore wind, heat pumps and electric vehicles that the helped support.
鈥淚'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a profound sadness that this is a choice that our country made,鈥� said Mark Scully, president of People's Action for Clean Energy. 鈥淚t's a turn away from many of the good things that we've been doing, and the type of conversations we've been having.鈥�
The Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law both passed during the Biden administration . The laws support climate projects including rooftop solar distribution, water, air and waste management and expanded broadband internet access.
Scully said he was optimistic many of these projects will continue, with local, and bipartisan interest in advancing the clean energy industry.
Charles Rothenberger, climate and energy attorney with the advocacy group Save the Sound, said he would not expect a second Trump administration to expand renewable energy projects currently supported by the Inflation Reduction Act.
鈥淏ut a wholesale repeal of that initiative, I think, is also unlikely,鈥� he said, adding that it鈥檚 benefited communities across the country. 鈥淪o there are real economic benefits helping individuals and households of all political persuasions.鈥�
Several advocates expressed wanting to see 黑料新闻鈥檚 lawmakers work collaboratively across the aisle next session on climate action.
鈥淲e're committed more than ever, and we know what's coming,鈥� Lori Brown, with the 黑料新闻 League of Conservation Voters, said. 鈥淲e just need to stay strong and united and make sure that we hold the line against rollbacks, but also keep an eye on the progress.鈥�
Learn more
黑料新闻鈥檚 Where We Live: 鈥淢anaging your election stress starts with knowing you're not alone鈥�
