The 2024 Election: Protecting the Environment and Fighting for People’s Needs

The recent election has once again highlighted the critical intersection of environmental protection, corporate influence, and the health of our democracy. With the return of the Trump administration, environmental activists face both familiar and unprecedented challenges as we work to safeguard the planet and uphold democratic norms. While it is understandable to feel discouraged, we must rally our forces, learn from the past, and continue to fight for the needs and rights of both people and the planet.

The Threats of a Second Trump Administration

During the previous Trump administration, over 100 environmental rules and regulations were rolled back, undermining critical safeguards for clean air, clean water, and public lands (LINK). Key policies were dismantled, and protections for public lands were weakened to accommodate fossil fuel development. Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, the global agreement to curb climate change, and has threatened to do so again.  If history serves as a guide, we can anticipate renewed efforts to slash environmental protections in favor of industry and corporate interests.

The threats to biodiversity, climate goals, and environmental justice are severe. The Trump administration has signaled a return to policies that prioritize fossil fuel expansion and unchecked corporate power—policies that not only accelerate climate change but also disproportionately harm vulnerable communities already bearing the brunt of environmental degradation.  In addition, the Trump administration's commitment to build a wall along the southern US border will have negative impacts on animal species that require ranges on both sides of the border, threatening additional species extinction events.  Likely, border communities will also be negatively impacted.

Finally, the horrific tragedies playing out in the Middle East (via US support of Israel) – the genocide in Gaza, the attacks on civilians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the relentless bombing of Syria – all supported by the Biden administration, are likely to continue if not escalate under the Trump administration with continued human rights violations and environmental destruction.  Although Trump has said he will end the war in Ukraine on day one, it remains to be seen if he will follow through.
 

The Role of Corporate Influence and Power

This election has once again demonstrated the overwhelming influence of corporate money and power on the political system. Both major parties benefit from donations and lobbying by industries that significantly contribute to environmental harm. The fossil fuel industry, agribusiness, chemical manufacturers and the military-industrial complex continue to exert outsized power, stalling meaningful actions to address emissions, water pollution, and deforestation. To this toxic conglomeration of industries we can now add the huge energy hungry data centers run by AI and Crypto companies. With Trump proposing to fill his cabinet with a multitude of rich billionaires who have already signaled their intent to use the power to line their own pockets, it becomes even more critical to challenge the capitalist economic system that creates the unprecedented income and wealth inequality that fuels the entangled web of wealth and government power.

One key reason for the Democrats’ losses was the perception among many voters that the party is just as influenced by corporate money as the Republicans. Disillusioned voters stayed home, feeling that neither party truly represented their interests. Additionally, Trump’s reliance on lies, demagoguery, and bigotry appealed to some voters who felt abandoned by mainstream politics and saw no other solutions being offered.
 

The Role of Grassroots Movements

The return of an administration hostile to climate science will likely slow—or even reverse—national climate initiatives, derailing progress toward global environmental and human rights goals. In the face of a federal government antagonistic to environmental concerns, grassroots organizations and concerned citizens must redouble their efforts to drive local climate action.

Despite these challenges, grassroots environmental activism remains a powerful force. This election underscores the urgent need for community-driven movements to shape policy and mount legal challenges against environmentally destructive projects.

Our focus must remain on organizing communities and eliminating the influence of corporate money in politics. This is why W.A.T.E.R. supports the work of Move to Amend in its efforts to overturn Citizens United and reverse the legal doctrine of corporate personhood. Building coalitions across diverse communities, advocating for systemic reforms, and advancing local and regional policy changes are essential strategies moving forward.

The fight to protect the environment is inseparable from the fight against militarism and war and for democracy. The path of war mongering and imperialism is a road to environmental disaster. Attacks on democratic institutions—whether through voter suppression, misinformation, or the erosion of legal norms—undermine the very mechanisms needed to hold leaders accountable and promote environmental issues. Environmental progress depends on fair elections, a free press, and a government responsive to the will of the people, not corporations. Linking environmental justice to the needs of working people is key to this challenge.

Moving Forward: The Need for Resilience, Inspiration,  and Action 

To defend the environment and democracy, we must:

• Organize and Mobilize – Grassroots movements will be essential for driving climate action and resisting harmful policies.

• Defend Public Lands and Science – Protecting national monuments, countering disinformation, and upholding science-based policies will be critical battlegrounds.

• Strengthen Peace and Democratic Institutions – Advocating for peace, fair elections, voting rights, transparency, and removing the influence of money from politics is inseparable from the fight for environmental justice.

• Challenge our Dysfunctional Economic System – Eliminating constitutional corporate personhood and money and free speech, support critical thinking about how economies could function to meet the needs of all people while supporting a healthy planet.

The road ahead is challenging, but progress is possible when people unite to protect what matters most—our democracy, our environment, and our future. Now is the time for resilience, vigilance, and bold action!