Building an Environmental Movement for Working Families
The Trump administration plans to intensify efforts to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. | Photo by Ian Martin
The morning after Election Day, many at the Sierra Club mourned the lost potential of a Harris–Walz administration, which promised advancements in environmental progress, democracy, and fundamental rights. On that day, I wrote to my family, emphasizing that even in tough times, we can channel our lives towards progress. I reminded them of America’s resilience through history’s challenges, like slavery and Jim Crow, echoing my grandmother’s belief: “Pessimists are right more often, but optimists win more often.”
The Sierra Club is prepared to lead, fight, and win upcoming battles. For over a century, our organization has protected wilderness, wildlife, clean air, and water, ensuring a sustainable, stable climate future. This mission remains unchanged. Our national network of chapters and volunteers will continue to retire coal plants, oppose oil and gas projects, promote clean energy, and safeguard Earth’s natural wonders.
While aware that a second Trump administration could be more perilous than the first, we are prepared. Previously, we not only countered Trump’s environmental policies but continued to make progress. We will persevere.
During Trump’s first term, the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program filed over 300 lawsuits, successfully challenging many of Trump’s attacks on environmental protections. Our team of 45 lawyers is ready to act again.
We were vigilant watchdogs, using Freedom of Information Act requests to uncover the administration’s ties to the fossil fuel industry, leading to the resignation of disgraced EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.
The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign closed coal plants faster during Trump’s tenure than during Obama’s. This progress continued even amidst challenges.
We consistently defended national lands and waters. When Trump targeted Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments, we litigated. When he removed Roadless Rule protections, we rallied public opposition. When Trump opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, we pressured corporations to withdraw. We will continue to defend the Biden–Harris administration’s drilling ban in the Western Arctic.
Thanks to the Biden–Harris Inflation Reduction Act, the shift to renewable energy is underway, fueling a clean energy jobs boom and revitalizing American manufacturing in solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. Many of the 330,000 jobs created since the IRA are in Trump-supporting regions. If Trump targets the IRA, Republicans will face job losses in their districts.
The Sierra Club and allies are ready to fight back, but we must heed lessons from this election. To combat the climate crisis, we must engage the working class.
Working people have sent a clear message: their votes are driven by economic concerns. We must meet them where they are, offering a movement that not only aims for a livable planet but also ensures well-paying jobs, improved health through cleaner air and water, and lower energy bills. We will achieve this through community-based organizing and relationship building.
Stay hopeful. As my grandmother would say, hope is a choice, and future generations will benefit from our optimism.
Original Story at www.sierraclub.org