As President Trump moves to weaken environmental protections, states are expanding independent climate initiatives and winning key legal battles to defend their authority.
In short:
- President Trump’s executive order seeks to block state-level climate laws, but constitutional protections and legal precedent make it difficult to enforce.
- States like California, Washington, and Illinois are expanding clean energy programs and forming stronger coalitions to advance climate policy.
- Courts have forced the Trump administration to release billions in frozen climate-related funds after multiple lawsuits from states and advocacy groups.
Key quote:
“This administration appears to be just banking on the fact that they don’t need to follow the law until and unless someone sues them.”
— Jillian Blanchard, vice president of climate change and environmental justice at Lawyers for Good Government
Why this matters:
State-led climate action has become a critical defense against federal inaction and rollback efforts. With transportation, housing, and energy sectors accounting for much of the nation’s carbon emissions, states hold real power to shape the future of America’s environmental health. Their ability to act independently matters not just for emissions reductions but for public health, as clean air and water protections hinge on effective local policies. Federal attacks on climate funding threaten these gains, risking higher rates of respiratory illnesses, extreme weather damage, and infrastructure instability. Meanwhile, grassroots support for cleaner energy and sustainable growth continues to strengthen, reflecting a broad recognition that environmental stewardship is tied to economic resilience, community well-being, and basic rights to a livable environment.
Related: Maryland’s conservation streak shows how far a small state can go
