Activity in Key States

Making progress on climate and environmental goals has always required robust activity at the state and local level. Prominent examples include California’s historic emissions standards that have forced the auto industry to meet higher standards for over 40 years, and, more recently, the enactment of Cap and Invest program in Washington State, and New York’s focus on ensuring that clean energy benefits are distributed equitably and evenly, leaving no community behind. As we move ahead, states are at the epicenter of implementing historic new drivers of climate action – working to effectively deploy the new resources made available by the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Today the climate challenge and the opportunities to drive climate progress have never been greater. We know that a transition to an economy powered by clean energy is underway. The only questions are: can we make that transition fast enough to meet the moment and in a way that equitably serves the communities the transition is intended to help? State and local action is pivotal to meeting that challenge.

EDF Action has always engaged in action at the state and local levels. But recognizing that more is needed, and working to capitalize on this moment, EDF Action and the Environmental Defense Fund have a new emphasis on state affairs, placing State Directors on the ground to coordinate and support all of EDF and EDF Action’s work in 13 strategically significant states. Many of these State Directors have been with our team in other roles for years, and some bring deep expertise from other organizations. All are known commodities and trusted voices within their State Capitols and Governor’s Offices, and expertly work at the intersection of policy and politics to advance EDF’s goals.

Because we understand that we will not solve the climate crisis just by taking action where it’s politically expedient, EDF Action is committed to working in states regardless of whether their political orientation is thought to be “red”, “blue” or somewhere in between, and irrespective of whether the state is rural or urban, or how dependent they are on oil and gas revenue to meet their annual budgets and fund state services. That’s why we have been proud to help advance coastal restoration in places like Louisiana and Florida; to work to help enact the first two voluntary methane monitoring programs in Colorado and New Mexico; and to work with groups like Texas Big City Mayors and the (national) African American Mayors Association.

EDF Action Key States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.