“When everything seems dark, look for the stars.” – Unknown

With the votes counted and the election results almost behind us, we find ourselves facing new challenges in our fight for climate action. In January, the Oval Office will once again have a leader who has dismissed climate science and vowed to intensify fossil fuel extraction. Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the impacts we are seeing on an almost daily basis in the form of intensified hurricanes, extreme heat, wildfires and drought, we are deeply concerned about the consequences a lack of leadership will have on our future. Yet, while there is worry, there is also hope. Because hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something is worth doing no matter how it turns out. It is the muscle we must keep exercising in the quest for climate justice and climate action.

Now more than ever, we must not stand down.

While climate may not be a priority for this White House, there are champions across the globe, and also the nation at the state, county, and local levels who are stepping up and will continue to step up. This election may feel like a setback for global climate action, but it cannot—and will not—stop the momentum driving us toward a decarbonized future. Clean renewable technologies will continue to outpace fossil fuels, not only because they are cleaner, healthier, and more abundant, but because they outshine fossil fuels at their weakest points: volatility, inefficiency, pollution, and, simply, the inability to sustain the future humanity needs. Although Trump’s focus is on maximizing oil and gas production, analysts believe the growth of renewable energy, driven by Biden-era subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), is unlikely to be significantly disrupted. These subsidies have gained bipartisan support, especially in red states benefiting from clean energy investments, like Florida.

Additionally, local governments, in particular, have the ability to act swiftly, tailoring solutions to meet the unique challenges faced by their communities. These actions, though smaller in scale, create powerful models of what effective climate action looks like, often setting the stage for broader national impact.

At The CLEO Institute, we remain unwavering in our mission to tackle the climate crisis through education, advocacy, and public mobilization. Every day, we empower thousands of people to speak up, take action, and make change—from classrooms to city halls. We’re partnering with local leaders and vulnerable communities to develop strategies that reduce emissions and build resilience. But we can’t do this alone; we need you. We need your solidarity, your support, your involvement, as well as your words of encouragement. The road ahead won’t be easy. We know that. But to quote Hal Borland: “No winter lasts forever and no spring skips its turn.”

Last week we heard from CNN Global climate correspondent, Bill Weir, while in Miami, that the remarkable Mr. Rogers would tell children in moments of despair to “look for the helpers”; the firefighters running into a house on fire or the community groups helping after a natural disaster.
Today, I encourage you to look for the stars and the helpers and champions in your community! Support local climate leaders, support us, lead by example, and keep talking about the climate crisis. Let’s keep moving forward with hope, determination, and the much needed will we need to keep pushing forward the climate solutions we already have at hand.

I have found in our work at The CLEO Institute, that the muscle that helps us ensure bold climate action is the muscle of HOPE.

Because hope is fuel for action – and action is the antidote to despair!
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to this cause.

Onward,

Yoca Arditi-Rocha
Executive Director
The CLEO Institute