
In early 2024 Just Solutions convened nearly 50 national and state organizations together to research, compile and publish, Defending and Advancing Climate Justice Policies, a comprehensive analysis of how we can collectively advance and defend climate justice in the face of various outcomes of the federal elections. Well, here we are. Now we face many potentially harmful decisions from Washington, DC. Because we had the forethought and relationships, and collectively committed the necessary time and resources, we now have this report in hand and ready to use in January 2025. We are much better positioned to both anticipate and respond to attacks. We can more effectively and aggressively push back against efforts that would undermine investments in just solutions, and put communities across the US in further danger of climate disasters.
This new national table of policy organizations, who worked together and created the attached document, include expertise on climate and intersectional issues like housing, economic justice, jobs and public health, represent people and places all across the US, who lead coalitions/networks capable of mobilizing a wide swath of the public. Combining our focus on climate and the intersection of so many inter-related issues is why we named this table Climate MAX.
Our in-depth review of Project 2025 and campaign promises made by President Trump and Congressional members lead us to believe that fundamental environmental protections, investments in climate solutions, and support for communities devastated by climate change will likely be eliminated or significantly rolled back.
- Key policy changes posed by the Trump Administration’s deregulatory agenda that could have the most impact on these communities include: weakening Clean Air Act regulations for both climate and conventional air pollution; further erosion of civil rights protections; increased support for fossil fuel extraction and consumption; and, a severely weakened federal capacity to provide disaster preparedness and response.
- While President Trump and his allies have vowed to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), it is unclear if there is the political will to do so. Many major investments supported by the IRA’s tax credit provisions are located in states and districts represented by Republican members of Congress, and over a dozen Republican House members have pressed Speaker Mike Johnson to preserve the tax credits. In addition, the majority of IRA grant funding, including the landmark $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, has already been obligated, making it much more difficult for the Trump Administration to unwind.
- We anticipate that funding to community-based efforts to advance solutions could be denied or clawed back, and furthermore, these community-based organizations could be attacked.
While there is great concern for the federal actions that could be forwarded by President Trump, at the same time there are many options that remain available to advance climate and environmental justice and improve material conditions for Indigenous Peoples, Black and frontline-low-income communities at the state, local, and grassroots levels. Our report is a resource for organizers, advocates and policymakers as they formulate and advance their campaign efforts.
Working together over the last 10 months, this new, intersectional table shows us that:
- There are successful pathways for advancing and defending climate justice, and we know what they are.
- Our intersectional approach positions us to advance climate solutions that bring tangible benefits to more people, in ways that they can see and experience in their lives and pocketbooks.
- Our reach is vast, deep, and capable of going to places where people have been, and/or feel disengaged and disenchanted by politics.
And as we move ahead together, our task is to continue to leverage our collective expertise to engage more with every day people. Many communities are winning on issues and innovating solutions, and simply lack the resources to scale their organizing and advocacy.
Our BIPOC-Frontline communities have shouldered, and been burdened by, fossil fuel infrastructure. We work where clean energy industrial investments can have the biggest impact. If the benefits of improvements are not seen here, and the problems of pollution, economic struggles continue and people feel relegated to the side-lines, then it will not be possible to advance a clean energy future.
We have a lot of hard work ahead of us on the path towards an equitable and just future, and we are committed to doing the work with you. Please share Defending and Advancing Climate Justice Policies with your network and follow Just Solutions for more updates on this effort.