While we may no longer have a climate champion in the White House, good people are still defending and advancing climate progress across the country. This month, we’re diving into federal and state efforts to hold the federal government accountable for their harmful (and likely illegal) actions, as well as exciting state efforts to hold polluters accountable and advance clean energy. At a time when many are wondering how we can push back, these stories prove that climate progress is still possible and is happening all across the country. 

Holding the federal government accountable

President Trump, Elon Musk, and extreme Republicans in Congress have announced a slew of dangerous actions and executive orders, including slashing the federal workforce, freezing funding for critical federal programs, and opening protected waters to oil and gas drilling. But we aren’t going to let them get away with this extreme agenda, and are working to hold the administration and Congress accountable…

…through the courts

Big news: we’re suing the administration! LCV, alongside a coalition of environmental organizations, filed a lawsuit against a Trump executive action seeking to allow oil and gas drilling in protected waters in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. LCV won a previous lawsuit challenging a similar executive action from the first Trump administration in the 2019 case LCV vs Trump.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also took the administration to court. Last month, Governor Shapiro filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s cuts to federal programs. In the lawsuit, he cited that state agencies rely on government funding to provide essential services to Pennsylvania residents.

About a week after he filed the lawsuit, Shapiro announced that $2 billion in funds that had been frozen by the administration had been restored. Shapiro’s success can and should inspire other governors on both sides of the aisle to challenge the Trump administration’s cuts to critical programs, including environmental protection programs like clean air and water monitoring, clean energy projects, National Park maintenance, and more.

…and through Congress

In addition to keeping those in the executive branch in check, we are also helping constituents hold members of Congress accountable for their voting records on environmental and democracy issues with the newly-released 2024 National Environmental Scorecard!

The 2024 Scorecard scores members of Congress on how often they chose the pro-environment, pro-democracy position on 33 House and eight Senate votes. The scores allow constituents to see how their members are voting on issues they care about, and to celebrate the good work of climate champions while pressuring low-scorers to do more. Learn more about the Scorecard and how YOU can get involved to hold your members accountable.

And we’re not the only ones holding Congress responsible for their votes. Earlier last month, 130 mayors and local officials from 39 states and D.C. urged Congress to protect Biden-era direct pay clean energy tax credits. These tax credits are saving people money in communities across the country and helping address the climate crisis. Local legislators reminding our federal elected officials that voting against supporting clean energy is not in the best interests of their constituents will be a powerful tactic in protecting clean energy progress.

Climate progress in the states

State and local officials are not letting the hostile attitude toward climate action at the federal level stop them from making meaningful climate progress across a variety of sectors.

…to reduce pollution and hold polluters accountable

A growing number of states are seeking to reduce carbon emissions from the production of building materials, such as concrete, steel, glass, and more. The manufacturing of these building products account for an estimated 11% of annual global emissions. As of February, nine states have enacted “Buy Clean” policies that seek to boost demand for lower-carbon building materials by providing domestic low-carbon manufacturing facilities a competitive cost advantage over more carbon intensive operations.

Along with tackling pollution at the source, states are working to hold polluters accountable for their emissions. California recently passed an ambitious climate-disclosure law that requires large companies operating in the state to report their climate-related financial risk and carbon footprint. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce challenged the law, but a federal judge dismissed the claims that sought to nullify it at the beginning of the month. This dismissal clears the path for more accountability for heavily-polluting companies. 

…to invest in clean energy

Despite opposition from the Trump administration, clean energy programs and investments are moving ahead in states across the country including:

Want more good climate news?

Follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, and X (formerly Twitter) for weekly Good Climate News updates. We’ll be back on The Power Source blog next month with another roundup of highlights.

In this fraught political moment, it is more important than ever to make your voice heard to protect people and the planet. To get involved in bringing about even more good climate news, join us at lcv.org/get-involved/.