The news in the last few months has been heartbreaking. Time and time again, the Trump administration has taken a sledgehammer to the environmental and health protections that keep our families and communities safe. Most recently, Republicans in Congress passed Trump's "Big Ugly Bill," which is the most anti-environment law in US history.
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We can't downplay the real harm that federal policies like this will cause to millions of Americans. We also want to shine a light on the bold and revolutionary local actions that cities, towns, and states are taking despite the failures of our federal government.

States are leading the way in holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for knowingly poisoning our future, stopping public lands from being sold to the highest bidder, protecting water from dangerous corporate pollution, and so much more.

Here are 10 of our favorite state victories that have happened since Trump took office:

1) New York passed the second-in-the-nation Climate Change Superfund Act, following a similar bill passed by Vermont last year. These are the first pieces of US legislation ever to hold the oil and gas industry financially responsible for their role in the climate crisis, and will utilize industry funds for climate adaptation programs. The Ohio legislature repealed a coal industry bailout that would have forced Ohioans to pay around half a million dollars a day to bail out the financially failing coal plants and cover the poor business decisions of the Ohio electric utilities that own the plants.
2) The Florida legislature passed the "State Park Preservation Act," a bill that halted plans to convert Florida's 175 state parks, which serve as spaces for recreation and critical wildlife sanctuaries, into private hotels, golf courses, and other forms of development.
3) California proved that renewable energy is reliable by running on a record 98 out of 116 days with up to 10 hours of electricity generated from only clean, renewable sources like solar and wind.
4) The New Mexico legislator acted to safeguard all surface water from harmful PFAS and other chemicals in response to federal rollbacks of the Clean Water Act.
5) Illinois won a victory against Big Oil when a Chicago case to hold the industry accountable for climate lies is sent back to the state. Dozens of courts rejected the oil and gas industry's attempt to move the cases to the US Supreme Court.
6) Colorado passed a bill protecting wild bison by classifying them as big game wildlife, ensuring that, for the first time in nearly 150 years, wild bison will roam freely on Colorado public lands. (Which is especially exciting right now as July is National Bison Month)
7) Iowa, Missouri, and Tennessee defeated
8) Bayer Protection legislation, a bill that aimed to shield the pesticide company from lawsuits related to cancer and other public health claims.
9) Connecticut passed a historic bill to establish a new goal to reach net-zero emissions statewide by 2050.
10) Iowa secured $12 million in funding for the enhancement and protection of the state's natural and cultural resources. Want to be an advocate for change in your state? Find out what's happening at your local chapter here!

State by state and city by city, we are still making significant gains.

While it may feel like local action isn't enough, it's worth remembering just how massive many states are. California is currently the world's fourth-largest economy (that's larger than Japan), and Texas is the eighth (that's larger than Russia). Even in small states, every bit of progress matters. And the part that you play can have a ripple effect, acting as a model in other places.

These actions start from the ground up and happen thanks to changemakers like you, friend. Join us -- get involved in your Sierra Club chapter today --->>> [link removed]

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