Ever since I stepped into my role as the Sierra Club's Executive Director this year, I keep returning to the same question: What kind of future will we leave behind? It's the same question I carried years ago when I first visited the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and experienced one of the most awe-inspiring and breathtaking places.
Today, that question feels even more urgent. In 2025 alone, we've watched a wave of rollbacks targeting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Western Arctic, our public lands, our wildlife refuges, and the mature and old-growth forests that store centuries of carbon, and more.
These are the places that define us, friend. They include lands that Indigenous communities have stewarded for centuries and depend upon today. They are home to endangered wildlife and unique plant species. They are some of the most stunning, beautiful places on the planet. And they are in danger.
It's deeply troubling. It's urgent, it's disturbing. But I want to be clear: I am not discouraged. Heading into 2026, I am feeling hopeful and energized for the fight ahead.
Over the past year, supporters like you have helped mobilize hundreds of thousands of public comments to defend 58 million acres of our national forests. You've helped us hold lawmakers and companies accountable when they've tried to silence Indigenous voices' cries to protect their land. You've helped us protect wildlife and advocate for a brighter, greener future.
Today, you have an extraordinary opportunity to amplify your impact at a moment when the stakes could not be higher for the lands we all share.
