As we chart our paths forward in the aftermath of Election 2016, we can see with great clarity that our region’s work towards a clean energy economy, broadly-shared prosperity, and a healthy climate is more important than ever. Progress at the federal level will continue to be hard, if not completely stalled. Success must and will be driven at the local, state, and regional level. In the months ahead, we must be ready to move forward boldly, and with steadfast ambition to bridge divides and accelerate the transition. Here are some simple ways you can help:

1. Demand accountability and leadership from our elected officials. Local, state, and regional action will be more critical than ever to solve the climate crisis, as well as so many other important issues. Please call your governor, legislators, mayor, city and county council leadership, and make sure they understand both the urgency and the opportunity for local climate action now. If they have been champions, thank them and encourage them to lean in even more. Meet with your legislators one on one at the Capitol, a district office, or by scheduling a coffee meeting.* (Contact us if you need more information on the best ways to hold your legislators accountable.) 
2. Stop the largest coal export terminal in North America: Six years ago coal companies filed the first permits to export coal through Longview, WA. We have defeated many coal export schemes since that first one, but the Longview proposal still stands. Now it’s time to stop it. If built, this would be the largest coal export terminal in North America. The public now has one last chance to weigh in on this project, as the Army Corps of Engineers completes its narrow-scope review of impacts. We need you to submit your comments by November 29^th!  
3. Give to Climate Solutions. We are working tirelessly for climate action all the time, and your support makes a huge difference—making sure we have the resources to keep doing what is necessary, not just possible, to propel the clean energy economy forward, and to implement real solutions to climate change in our region.  
4. Stay informed. While it's hard to take in some of the news, it's critical that we know what is happening. Each week, we provide an information-rich summary of top climate and clean energy news from around the country. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to ClimateCast and make sure that you’re among the best informed on clean energy news and important trends.  
5. Defend against federal attacks on climate progress and clean energy. President-elect Trump and many in Congress appear eager to roll back the progress that we have made on climate and clean energy: from pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, to gutting the Clean Power Plan to cut carbon emissions from the electricity sector, to approving the Keystone and Dakota pipelines. We must defend our past gains. Sign up for Climate Solutions action alerts so we can all respond quickly and effectively when and where the moment requires.  
6. Stop making it worse. As I write, thousands of people are putting themselves on the line to stop work on the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL), many sustaining injuries yet continuing to speak out. Call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Obama to protect our climate—and clean water for 17 million Americans—by stopping the dangerous pipeline. Many people are also moving their money—divesting from the banks and financial institutions that are backing the DAPL project. You can also contact the heads of those institutions to ask them to divest their support for unwise, unnecessary fossil fuel infrastructure projects such as DAPL.
7. Support a cause that is important to you. There are so many things that we hold dear in this challenging political environment. We need to stand as allies with many causes and communities to create broader solidarity in building a better future for all. Whether you are passionate about climate change, or homelessness, or protecting immigrants and people of color from harassment and deportation; or you want to support independent journalism, voter rights and groups working in the legal arena to defend our laws; now is the time to increase your involvement. Take the extra step needed to succeed in this turbulent time. Write a bigger check than you normally would. Volunteer that extra time. Do a little more than you ever have to respond to this unprecedented moment; do a lot more if you can.

Finally, in this week of Thanksgiving, I want you to know that we at Climate Solutions are profoundly grateful for all that you do to support our work together. Thank you for your caring, your action, and your love for our Earth and for a safe, prosperous future for all of our families and communities.

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