Where we’re finding hope following the U.S. elections

For people who care about climate action, social justice, and democracy, there was a lot at stake in last week’s U.S. election. And if, like us, you’re worried about what the outcome means for the planet and the people you care about – you are not alone.

Stand.earth is an international organization, but about half of our staff works in the United States. We also know that what happens in U.S. elections affects the entire world. As we look at the global landscape, we are worried about what the future holds for the people and places we love.

I am not going to tell you everything will be OK, and I am not asking you to pretend you are not devastated. Let’s not fake it. This is scary, and it will be hard.

Many of us in the U.S. are deeply concerned about the rising threats to our environment, as climate change continues to jeopardize our air, water, and natural habitats. We are also worried about the wellbeing of people who will be directly harmed by harsh policy changes and threatened by the rise in racist, xenophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic attacks. While these issues are acutely felt in the U.S., the ramifications extend far beyond U.S. borders, impacting communities and ecosystems around the globe.

There’s no doubt that the next four years will be a battle, but I believe in the strength and dedication of this community. Here is where I see reason for hope, for unity, and some ways to move forward: we can carry forward lessons from last time. As in 2016, this is a moment when an enormous amount of time, money and energy could shift into playing defense. We certainly cannot ignore this, but this time around, we must also remember that defense is not our only option. Let’s not waste time and money fighting losing battles that will be over quickly and decisively. That is not strategy – that is wishful thinking, and we can’t afford it.

We must also go on the offensive. Here are some areas where we can and must seize the agenda. 

• Many of our largest companies can and will rise to the challenge when the federal government is an enemy to climate, to justice, to protecting oceans and forests. And many of them have drifted and become complacent under the current Administration.
  
  Big tech companies, for example, once the darlings of the renewable energy movement, are driving the use of coal, methane gas, even nuclear energy. Microsoft, for example, is using all three to power unending buildout of AI and then using AI to help oil companies drill more oil. Google, Amazon, and all of Big Tech must be challenged to return to their values and reestablish climate and justice as top priorities.
  
  Big brands across many economic sectors from fashion to Big Box stores to transportation and shipping can rise up and demonstrate real leadership, as they did last time. They will go further and faster if our campaigns are crafted to challenge them and incentivize real action on climate and justice – and to support them when they do the right thing.
• Community action in states, cities, counties, and towns is where so much climate regulation actually happens. About 70% of climate pollution happens in cities and this is the front line. Working with these governments will be critically important to developing forward momentum. California alone is the fifth largest economy on earth. If we grouped together the state with other climate-friendly states, counties, and cities, this ad-hoc “climate country” would be in the top four largest economies globally. Sit with that power for a moment and feel the opportunity there. 
  
  And we can’t ignore more conservative states that have yet to prioritize climate. They are not off the map of possible action at all, but we have to talk about our issues in a different way than we have in the past. There are strong environmental and health advocates across the United States who care deeply about the future of the economies and ecosystems around them. Wind, solar, heat pumps, and more all make better economic and human health sense without talking about our issue (climate). When federal support is unreliable, local ambition is more likely to thrive.

I am heartened by the huge strides possible in the coming years, but we can only seize these opportunities if we all join together and risk our own safety at times to stand as one. We must try tactics in the advocacy space we have been too afraid to do in the past, and fight like our lives and the lives of our family, friends, neighbors, and community members depend upon it. 

Because that is where we are at this moment. It is time to fight like never before.

At the same time, as I said to my colleagues last week, many of us are wounded and we should not pretend otherwise. Make time to be present with your pain. And also: Go out into nature, be with those you love, work out, bake, chop wood, run, hike, swim, read, hug someone, play with your pets, paint, write, plant, harvest, forage – do the things that feed you. 

And then let’s get back to work. Stand will be here when you’re ready.

 

Yours in determination, solidarity, and hope,

 

Todd Paglia

Executive Director

Stand.earth