State & Local Climate Leadership
Issue Briefing
The climate movement is entering a new strategic landscape with tremendous opportunity for local progress. We need every elected official to step up their leadership to meet this moment.
Clear Policy Ask: Make climate or climate-aligned issues a centerpiece of your policy agenda in 2025 and beyond. Take the first step today by joining nationwide coalitions of like-minded leaders for resources and accountability.
Meaningful U.S. climate action is still on the table. State and local leaders are stepping up.
The new administration represents a big change in the federal approach to climate policy. However, it does not spell doom and gloom. Momentum now shifts to states, cities, and towns, where there is significant opportunity for progress. In fact, state and local government action alone can achieve nearly 75% of U.S. climate goals under the Paris Agreement. That means that even without any major federal policy, we can reduce emissions at scale – and in a way that touches our lives more directly – at the state and local level.
In fact, there’s already strong state & local leadership underway, though it looks different in each state. For example, the state of Texas has led the country in deploying renewables. New York City’s Local Law 97 is set to cut building emissions by 40% by 2030. Energy efficiency measures in Michigan will save utility customers over $1.4 billion.
Together, state and local climate action drives emissions reductions that even matter on the global stage. There are several ways to measure this: Via the America is All In coalition, more than two-thirds of the American economy has already committed to our Paris target, making it “the world’s economy besides the United States itself.” Via state laws or utility commitments, more than 60% of the U.S. as measured by power sales and emissions are committed to net zero carbon emissions.
“If these U.S. non-federal actors were a country, they would be the world’s largest economy besides the United States itself.” ”
You can nudge your state and local officials forward on climate, no matter where they fall on the political spectrum.
Support for climate action is not a binary – vote yes or vote no. In reality, all policymakers fall somewhere along a spectrum of climate ambition. Often, the spectrum of climate ambition aligns with the political spectrum, where Democratic policymakers tend to be more pro-climate and Republican policymakers tend to be more skeptical.
That said, we are in a moment of flux as elected officials of all political persuasions contend with the reality of the climate crisis. Perhaps the most visible example is the Conservative Climate Caucus, a group of 60+ Republican members of Congress who meet regularly to learn about and discuss climate solutions aligned with conservative values.
No matter where your elected officials fall on the spectrum of climate ambition, they could be doing more.
The obstructionists should be supporting climate-aligned policies – even if motivated by different benefits, like preservation of natural spaces or cost savings.
Neutral elected officials should start to see themselves in the issue and find narrow places where they can lead on climate in the way that feels right to them.
And even the champions could be doing more. It’s not enough to vote the right way; climate should be one of their top priorities and they should be doing all they can to engage their colleagues productively, too.
Smart Strategy: Meet them where they are.
The most effective advocates tailor their outreach to match their elected officials. This means learning to speak their language and appeal to their priorities, no matter where they fall on the spectrum of climate ambition.
This process starts with taking the time to learn a little bit about them first—their personal and professional priorities. What issues do they talk about most on their social media or website? Do they like getting outdoors? Maybe they love fishing, or taking their kids to visit our inspiring National Parks.
Where their personal passions and existing policy leadership dovetails with climate (or climate-related topics, like clean air and energy affordability, etc) is what you’ll emphasize in your outreach. That’s what it looks like to meet them where they’re at.
Even climate champions need encouragement. 🥳
For the climate champions, focus on building up their identity as a climate leader. Thank them for all they’ve already done (yes, even if you wish they’d do more) and offer a new way they can continue their streak of leadership. You can think about this approach as repeatedly handing them a metaphorical “climate leader” t-shirt. Each time they put it on, they’ll increasingly own the identity and act like one.
Moreover, as the political landscape shifts, contacting presumed champions at the state and local level is more important than ever. With a new set of political priorities being set at the federal level, we need our champions to know that constituents still want to see meaningful climate progress at the top of the agenda.
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This is a hypothetical!
Representative Shakespeare is in his 4th term in Congress. He's a mainstream Democrat from the NYC suburbs with an LCV score of 98 and generally gets "credit" from his constituents for being "pro-climate." He's a shoo-in to support any major proposed climate bill, but he's never introduced his own. Watch how he might move along the climate ambition spectrum with constituent pressure:
September 2021: When climate bills come through his committee, he eagerly votes “yes,” and then gets on with his day. So much to do!
December 2021: His staff tells him there’s been an uptick in emails, calls, and constituent meetings about climate issues. He starts being more vocal on climate, taking care to start mentioning it at in-district events, interviews with the press, and on social media.
March 2022: It’s a midterm election year. He’s not worried about the general, but a very climate-ambitious primary candidate has started getting public attention. Shakespeare doubles down on his climate talking points.
April 2022: The administration is expected to make a big regulatory decision on new methane leakage requirements. Shakespeare leads a joint sign-on letter with over 100 signatures from his colleagues in Congress and sends it to the president urging her to adopt the most stringent standards possible.
May 2022: Shakespeare wins his primary but has also noticed he now identifies as a real leader on climate after his sign-on letter received a lot of press and, notably, a lot of encouragement from folks in his district. He’s learned a lot about methane over the past couple of months and has asked his staff to craft a new bill.
August 2022: Shakespeare introduces his bill with 15 original cosponsors. He asks his colleagues about joining a few climate-focused caucuses in the House and starts considering how he could engage with Republicans on a methane deal.
November 2022: As Shakespeare’s campaign team evaluates voter data, they notice an uptick in turnout from self-identified “environmental” voters and Gen Z. Shakespeare knows correlation doesn’t equal causation, but he wonders whether his recent climate leadership has anything to do with it.
And the cycle continues…
Contacting climate obstructionists is not a lost cause. 🤝
It’s discouraging to have a rep who is anti-climate, but that doesn’t mean progress is off the table.
Far from it.
Most of the time – and particularly on highly tangible, local issues – climate progress is made by way of connected issues, like conservation, energy, and resilience. Without ever uttering the words “climate change” you can still effectively advocate for systems-level change to your area’s schools, open spaces, local electricity generation, etc. All you have to do is speak their language and appeal to their values and priorities.
Finally, with any policymaker, the key to unlocking progress is in your tone. Extend a hand; don’t put them into a defensive crouch. Bring them in instead of calling them out. When you approach every email, call, or meeting as an opportunity to strengthen your constituent-representative relationship, you’re sure to nudge their leadership forward, no matter where they fall on the spectrum of climate ambition.
Each Action Playbook in the Action Plan includes guidance on researching your elected official and a message template to customize based on what you learn.
STOP! You now know enough to take meaningful action.
Curious and want to learn more? Cool, keep scrolling!
Quick Frames: What framing will resonate best with your elected officials?
Here are seven different ways to talk about state & local climate action - with examples - from across the country:
🏛️ ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
States taking the lead on climate action are reaping the economic benefits. South Carolina’s solar industry is set to inject $19 billion into the state’s economy, create more than 3,300 new jobs, and generate nearly $261 million annually in new worker pay.
💨 DISASTER READINESS
Weather and climate disasters already cost Americans more than $120 billion annually, forcing vulnerable states and cities to adapt quickly. In addition to keeping communities safer, Miami’s stormwater resilience investments will avoid flood losses, lower flood insurance premiums, and increase property values.
📈 FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Utilities can save money – and pollute less – by implementing energy efficiency measures like the ones in Michigan that are anticipated to save ratepayers $1.4 billion over a decade.
🌽 AGRICULTURAL RESILIENCE
Farmers are already feeling the impacts of climate change, from severe droughts to unexpected flooding. State policies can support climate-smart agriculture, like Iowa’s funding for cover crop adoption, which increases soil health, conserves water, and protects yields.
🌐 GLOBAL CLIMATE GOALS
Cities and states are banding together to represent the United States on the international stage. Over 20 bipartisan governors, from California to North Carolina, covering >50% of the U.S. population have committed to upholding the U.S.’ goals under the Paris Agreement.
🏘️ AFFORDABLE HOUSING
State and local climate leadership on buildings can save money and improve quality of life for underserved residents. Seattle’s grants for decarbonizing retrofits in low-income housing will reduce costs, slash emissions, and bring in the next generation of heating & cooling technology.
🌳 CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Protecting natural spaces strengthens communities and economies alike. Urban tree planting programs in Atlanta improve air quality, reduce heat islands, and sequester carbon. Coastal wetlands restoration in Louisiana absorbs storm surges while protecting fisheries.
Coalitions = bigger impact and greater accountability.
Joining a coalition is both symbolic and practical. Coalitions allow elected officials to signal their intent to lead, and they provide the resources and accountability to do so. There are dozens across the country, each with their own unique impact. Some have strict standards for joining, like committing to emissions reduction goals. Others function more like a network for sharing resources and best practices. Either way, these coalitions offer a powerful opportunity for collective action among elected officials.
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Take for example the America is All In coalition, which got started in 2017 when President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. Joining America is All In means states, cities, and companies independently commit to the U.S.’s Paris Agreement goals of reducing emissions 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
Or, consider the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL), which functions like a “remote energy and environmental staffer” for state legislators across 43 environmental issues areas as diverse as energy energy technologies to climate justice to flood resilience. NCEL hosts annual policy retreats, tracks bills, publishes substantive explainers and briefings, and shares case studies on best-in-class environmental policies from across the states.
For a longer list of coalitions, scroll to the bottom of this briefing. (Note that the Climate Changemakers email templates to policymakers in the Action Playbooks already include the most relevant/suggested coalitions for that elected official, so all you will need to do is personalize your message!)
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AMERICA IS ALL IN is the most expansive coalition of leaders ever assembled in support of climate action in the United States. They come from thousands of U.S. cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools, and institutions of faith, health, and culture. The coalition is working to cut U.S. emissions in half by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the U.S.’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL)
NCEL is empowering a nonpartisan network of state legislative champions. Created by and for state legislators, NCEL serves as a resource to lawmakers working to protect, conserve, and improve the natural and human environment.
Local Government Leaders for Electrification
Hosted by Rewiring America, the nonpartisan Local Government Leaders for Electrification coalition supports Mayors, City Council Members, County Officials, and more in enacting policy and educating their communities about transitioning to all-electric appliances and vehicles.
Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of nearly 350 U.S. mayors, demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities since 2014. Representing 46 states and nearly 60 million Americans, Climate Mayors reflects U.S. cities’ commitment to climate progress.
Climate Cabinet’s Local Leaders Cohort
Climate Cabinet supports a cohort of local elected leaders in navigating each city’s unique challenges to become a climate leader through direct assistance, technical support, ongoing programming and skill-building sessions, and strategic connections to local leaders in similar situations. City, county, and local leaders are eligible.
Elected Officials Protecting America
Elected Officials to Protect America is a network of current and former bipartisan elected officials who care deeply about protecting our planet and democracy, by working together to transition to a clean energy economy. EOPA is the only national organization that mobilizes veterans who are lawmakers to work together on the climate crisis. Their local and state elected official network is vast with members in 50 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
HONORABLE MENTION COALTIONS
These organizations further climate leadership among state and local officials, but are not included in outreach templates because they don’t have a public application process.The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors securing America’s net-zero future by advancing state-led, high-impact climate action. Launched in 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California, the Alliance now includes governors from 24 states and territories, representing approximately 55% of the U.S. population, and 60% of the U.S. economy.
C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.
Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using an inclusive, science-based and collaborative approach to cut their fair share of emissions in half by 2030, help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C, and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities.
Climate XChange builds actionable research tools, facilitates cross-state collaboration, and designed tailored policy solutions, which empowers state policymakers and advocates to implement solutions that meet the urgency of the climate crisis.
Know of an effective coalition for state and local climate leadership that isn’t listed above? Send a note to info@climatechangemakers.org!
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Climate Changemakers email templates to policymakers in the Action Playbooks already include the most relevant/suggested coalitions for that elected official, so all you will need to do is personalize your message!
Generally, policymakers are likely to join coalitions that align with their values and the values/industries of their constituents. Thinking about this through different ways to frame climate action (the Quick Frames examples above) is a useful way to think about matching specific decision-makers with specific coalitions.
No matter their structure, programming, or mission, all the coalitions serve the common function of keeping climate leadership top of mind for elected officials. Indeed, “I have too many competing priorities” is one of the most common reasons elected officials at all levels of government cite for their inaction.
Quote from a city councilor at a recent Hour of Action:
“The additional push is so, so critical. I get pushed in so many directions by my constituents—I wish more people were pushing on climate so that I could focus all my time and energy there and know that doing so was in total alignment with what folks I represent were demanding.”
Quote from a member of Congress at a recent Hour of Action:
“The problem that we often find is that climate change… is always like number five or six or seven on the priority list. It never quite rises [high] enough that we can think about this on a daily basis. That kind of sustained attention is key.”
These testimonials from elected officials can teach us a powerful lesson: Never simply assume that those who are not acting don’t want to. In many cases, re-conceptualizing your climate advocacy as the practice of keeping climate or climate-aligned action at the top of an elected official’s priority list will unlock unexpected opportunities for alignment and progress. After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Your elected officials want to hear from you. Really.
At the federal level, we know that fewer than 10 emails from constituents is often enough to get an elected official’s attention on an issue. We also know that authentic, personalized outreach from constituents – whether via phone call, email, or meeting – has a greater influence on an elected official’s position than a visit from a lobbyist, and a far greater influence than form emails or petition signatures.
The influence that savvy constituents can wield at the federal level is only magnified at the state and local level, where elected officials are even more accessible and receive remarkably little outreach from constituents—on climate, and in general. The door is wide open for regular, climate-concerned people to make an outsized impact.
💬 Consider this excerpt from a recent blog post by changemaker and Staff member, Madeline:
“I’ll share an example from a recent Hour of Action in New York City, when I left a voicemail at my State Assembly member’s office. The next morning, I got a call back from her chief of staff; he thanked me for sharing my thoughts and asked if I wanted to continue the conversation over coffee. I was nervous, but it ended up being great! In most cases, our representatives genuinely want to connect with their constituents—in fact, it’s a big part of their job!
Sadly, very few constituents take advantage of this superpower. I noticed in my state senator’s “year-in-review” newsletter last year that he only received ~5,000 calls and emails from constituents… total, all year, and this is in a state with nearly 20 million constituents. And guess how many of these calls were about climate? Fewer than 50. And these fewer-than-50 calls were lumped into the catch-all category of “other concerns.”
What were our climate goals again, and what happens if we don’t meet them?
In 2015, the U.S. committed to ambitious climate goals under the Paris Agreement—a global pact to limit planetary warming to 1.5°C. Along with most other developed economies, the U.S. pledged to cut emissions in half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Idea being: If every country hits those targets, we have a shot at avoiding the worst impacts of the climate crisis. However, President-elect Trump’s plan to pull the U.S. from these agreements has left many climate-concerned Americans feeling anxious about whether we can still make enough progress.
The good news is that meaningful climate progress is still on the table. We can still avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis through bold leadership from the cities and states. The bad news is that even before the 2024 election, it was looking increasingly unlikely that we’d hit 1.5°C exactly.
But! But! But! Before anyone starts spiraling, planetary warming is not a binary. We don’t “win” if hit 1.5°C or “lose” if we miss it. No, every single tenth of a degree of planetary warming we avoid matters. It means less sea level rise, fewer super-charged storms, more lives and livelihoods saved, more ecosystems protected. It means every policy win from states and cities matters and our actions as engaged citizens pushing for progress matters.
For more on the 1.5°C goal from a NASA climate scientist, check out this recent Shift Key podcast episode.
© 2025 Climate Changemakers