Dear friend,

Despite how challenging 2025 has been, the Sierra Club is rising to meet the moment. We've won some major victories to protect our future -- and they are worth celebrating! Our grassroots power continues to prove it is up to any challenge, and we will continue to persevere, no matter the headwinds we face.

This past year has tested our country in ways we've never seen before, as Trump and his allies pushed policies that threaten our environment, climate, and communities while enriching the corporate polluters who back them. It's been a deeply challenging year, one that demanded courage and clarity.

But that has not stopped us, nor will it ever. When I think about ways our movement rose to confront these threats, I feel real hope. I feel proud. I feel inspired to keep going.

Together, we protected public lands, held polluters accountable, expanded clean energy, defended our communities, and grew our movement into a force powerful enough to meet this moment.

As the oldest grassroots environmental organization in the country, the Sierra Club has spent more than 130 years fighting for clean air, safe water, thriving wildlife, and a livable climate -- all of which are only possible due to the support of members and advocates like you, friend.

Keep reading to learn more about our top 2025 wins, or check out the full roundup from the year.
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1. We stopped millions of acres of public land from being sold off in the disastrous budget bill.

Public lands are precious -- sacred to many communities, essential for wildlife and recreation, and a shared public good -- but they're under attack like never before. In 2025, we helped stop one of the largest attempted public-lands sell-offs in U.S. history. After overwhelming public backlash and pressure from Sierra Club advocates, Congress withdrew a proposal that would have put millions of acres on the auction block.

2. We made polluters pay by passing the game-changing "Climate Change Superfund Act" in New York and introduced legislation in five states.

Coal, oil, and gas companies knew decades ago that fossil fuels would poison our communities and the planet, but they lied to protect their profits and passed the costs onto us. But not anymore -- it's time to make polluters pay! New York passed a landmark Climate Change Superfund Act following Vermont's legislation that passed in 2024. More bills have been introduced in California, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Maine. These victories mark a decisive shift toward accountability, justice, and community-driven climate action.

3. We safeguarded endangered species and wildlife like gray wolves, Colorado bison, and Rice's whales.

These are some major wildlife wins! Thanks to legal action by the Sierra Club and partners, Northern Rockies wolves are one step closer to Endangered Species Act protections after a federal judge found the Trump administration's denial unlawful. Colorado passed a groundbreaking bill recognizing bison as wildlife, ensuring herds can finally return to their historic range. In the Gulf, we stopped an offshore oil lease that posed severe risks to the last remaining Rice's whales. Together, we're restoring ecosystems and protecting species on the brink.

4. We secured energy affordability in Utah, Colorado, and California amid skyrocketing utility prices.

With utility bills soaring to higher and higher levels, we secured relief across the West. In Utah, we helped block Rocky Mountain Power's attempt to raise bills by more than 18 percent, protecting families from rising bills tied to fossil-fuel investments. Colorado adopted ambitious clean-heat targets that will cut pollution, deliver billions in climate and health benefits, and lower energy costs. And in California, cities are adopting forward-looking building codes that replace outdated AC units with efficient heat pumps, helping residents save money while cutting climate pollution.

5. We helped ensure that coal stays where it belongs -- in the ground -- in New England and Ohio.

Since its launch, the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign has successfully prevented more than one million asthma attacks and saved over 60,000 lives by retiring toxic coal plants. This year, we made even more progress. New England's final coal plant, Merrimack Station, officially shut down -- eliminating a massive source of air pollution and opening the door to clean energy. And in Ohio, we helped pass bipartisan legislation to repeal a massive ratepayer-funded coal plant bailout that would have cost residents nearly half a billion. Together, these milestones move us closer to a cleaner, healthier, coal-free future.

6. We fought the illegal firings of park and forest service staff.

We took DOGE to court to halt the unlawful mass firings of park and forest staff -- cuts that threatened visitor safety, wildlife, and wildfire prevention. Together with civil rights and science organizations, we organized protests with thousands of advocates and took legal action that halted Trump and DOGE's unlawful mass firings of National Park Service and Forest Service employees. By stepping in quickly, we helped defend the workers who maintain our parks, support wildfire prevention, and kept our public lands accessible to all.

7. We won bold electoral victories in November's election.

Voters across the country delivered a powerful message: Our communities will fight back against attacks on our democracy and are tired of an economy that only works for corporate polluters and the powerful. Voters showed up to demand fair energy prices, accountability, and a clean energy economy with major electoral victories in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, California, Mississippi, Massachusetts, and more.

8. We grew our movement by the millions with a groundswell of participation in protests across the country.

Amid an increasingly hostile political climate, our movement didn't just grow -- it surged. National days of action like the Hands Off and No Kings protests drew massive participation. Attendance in mobilization events jumped from 3 million to 5 million to 7 million people in just six months. With more events in more and more towns, including places long considered "Trump country," these record-breaking numbers show that our resistance is larger, more unified, and more determined than at any time in recent history.

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These victories are more than accomplishments -- they're proof that when we organize, we win.

As we look ahead, the challenges facing our climate and communities remain immense. But with your continued advocacy and support, the Sierra Club will keep fighting in courtrooms, statehouses, city councils, and on the streets across the country to protect the planet we all depend on.

This year has proved that our movement is growing stronger every day. Let's carry this momentum into the year ahead.

With gratitude and hope,

Loren Blackford
Executive Director
Sierra Club

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Please consider making a donation to support the Sierra Club’s vital work. Until December 31, your gift will be matched — helping us protect our shared public lands, hold leaders accountable, and push for a more sustainable future for all.
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