Post-Election, Find Light in the Dark: Climate Action

This November, many of us watched in despair as Donald Trump was re-elected to become our next President. The outcome leaves us with a profound sense of grief for our nation and our planet. For those who have spent years fighting for climate justice, the result feels like a gut punch, threatening to erase gains made in recent years and compounding the urgent need for action. 

While anger, fear, and sorrow are natural responses, we must also remember that grief can catalyze action. We now face a brutal truth: We have only four years to make progress that could sustain life as we know it. Climate experts tell us that without meaningful action by 2030, the window for limiting warming to survivable levels narrows dramatically. With federal leadership aligned against us, it’s time to double down on regional action and push our communities, our cities, and our states to do what our leaders won’t.

Grieving an election might seem strange, but it’s entirely valid. It’s important to recognize that our grief is both personal and collective. We're mourning not only for what could have been, but for the deepening suffering of communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. Indigenous peoples, Black and brown communities, and economically marginalized people will bear the brunt of climate inaction. Allow yourself to feel this pain; it’s a necessary step in finding resilience.

Our region, the Pacific Northwest, has always led the way in environmental stewardship. Washington, Oregon, and California have some of the most progressive climate policies in the U.S., and we have strong grassroots organizations and Indigenous-led coalitions that are pushing for real change. Here, we can create an environmental blueprint for others to follow.

Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver have demonstrated what’s possible when local governments and communities commit to climate goals. Programs like Seattle’s Green New Deal for climate justice and Portland’s Clean Energy Fund are models of how community-driven climate solutions can thrive in the absence of federal support. We need to build on these efforts, pushing them even further and sharing our successes as a source of hope and practical guidance. Our forests, coastlines, and the rights of the Indigenous communities who steward these lands depend on our commitment to collective resilience and advocacy.

Hazy Seattle sunset / Sunira Moses via Unsplash

So, what can we do over the next four years? First, we must build local and regional climate coalitions. Join or support climate justice organizations working on state and local levels. Groups like 350.org, Extinction Rebellion, and the Sunrise Movement are mobilizing communities across the region. Let’s grow these movements, joining our voices and resources to amplify the change we want to see. 

We should also push for ambitious decarbonization policies. If the federal government won't lead, we must demand that state and local governments adopt stricter environmental policies. From banning single-use plastics to committing to net-zero carbon goals, we need policies that curb pollution at the source. This also means supporting local businesses that prioritize sustainable practices and holding accountable those who don’t.

At every step, we must center Indigenous leadership and knowledge. Indigenous communities have stewarded the land since time immemorial, and their strategies are vital for climate resilience. The Lummi Nation’s work to protect salmon and the Yakama Nation’s stewardship of the Columbia River system are just a few examples of Indigenous-led conservation efforts. Let’s support their leadership and ensure that Indigenous voices and sovereignty are respected in all climate-related decisions. 

We must also make climate the heart of every election. Trump’s re-election underscores how much is at stake in every vote. Make climate action central to every election, from local school boards to the Senate. Use these next four years to elect local leaders who care deeply about climate justice. Organize, canvass, and show up to vote for candidates who have the courage to act.

It’s natural to feel defeated in moments like this, but our grief for the planet can fuel transformative change. We’ve seen this before: following the 2016 election, millions of people turned to activism in unprecedented ways, laying the foundation for the recent advances in climate and social justice we’re so fiercely protecting now.

Let’s turn our grief into momentum, using these next four years not only to resist but to build. Let’s build networks that make the climate justice movement resilient against any administration, any setback. Because if we can protect what we love here, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, we can build the foundation for a future that endures long after the next election.