The new year is upon us, and the second Trump administration will soon take power. Here’s some of what we can expect, or what we should focus on, in the months ahead.
A is for Activists vs. Autocrats.
The defining conflict of our generation.
B is for Biodiversity.
Threatened and endangered species aren’t going to protect themselves.
B is also for Billionaires and Bribes.
The rich keep getting richer and consolidating power. They’ll pay whatever and whomever they want to maintain and grow their dominance, and the Earth will suffer in the process.
C is for Climate Chaos.
The Trump administration will do whatever it can to dismantle climate protections, starting as soon as Day One, and, of course, is unlikely to pass any new environmental laws. Meanwhile weather will get more extreme, global temperatures will continue to rise, and communities and habitats will suffer. Be prepared — and continue to fight for progress.
C is also for Community.
Build one (or many) around yourselves. We’ll need each other.
D is for Decolonization.
As the world takes a hard shift to the right, we can’t lose sight of how that affects the people, places, and systems around us, many already suffering from decades or centuries of colonialist, oppressive acts and mindsets.
E is for Elections.
Local races will take place in late 2025, several states will hold key special elections early in the year, and the next federal elections are in 2026. What’s your plan?
F is for the Free Press and the First Amendment.
Both are friends to the environment and essential for bringing corporate and government malfeasance to light. Support your local and national media and speak your mind.
G is for Governors (and Mayors).
State and local action will be critical for maintaining progress against climate change as the federal government is robbed of power and professionalism under Trump.
H is for Hellbenders.
These amazing giant salamanders are scheduled to gain Endangered Species Act protection in 2025. Which other species will join them — or see their protections blocked?
I is for Ideas.
We’ll need a lot.
J is for Justice.
Let’s never forget the people left behind.
J is also for Jokes.
Take a cue from Mel Brooks, who spent his career satirizing Adolf Hitler — autocrats have big egos and thin skins. Parody helps cut them down to size.
K is for Kindness.
Be good to yourself and the people and wildlife around you. We’ll need a lot of that in the days ahead.
L is for Lawyers and Lawsuits.
Expect the first court filings against the Trump administration to come as early as Inauguration Day. (Meanwhile, we can count on an emboldened Trump to file more lawsuits against the media and his opponents.)
M is for Monuments
President Biden named several new national monuments while he was in office, including three during his final weeks (two of which are still pending as of press time). These designations protect important habitats or culturally important sites. Will Trump oppose or rescind them? I’m looking at you, Bears Ears.
N is for NOAA and NATO.
Let’s hope they survive the year.
O is for Obeying in Advance.
Which we must not do.
P is for Project 2025.
The extreme right has showed us its playbook. Now it’s time to use it against them and to anticipate their attacks against freedom and decency.
Q is for the Quest for Knowledge.
Never stop looking for new ways to protect life on Earth.
R is for Resting and Recharging.
It’s going to be a rough four years. Take care of yourself in the long fight ahead — nature walks help.
S is for Success Stories.
They make a huge difference. Telling stories about progress or victories helps others to replicate those successes. Reading those stories inspires people to seek their own solutions (and to pull back from the daily doom and gloom).
S is also for Sharing.
Don’t keep your victories — or your pain — to yourself. We grow when we communicate with friends and neighbors.
T is for Trump 2.0.
Of course it is.
U is for Ukraine.
And Palestine, Israel, Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Myanmar, and so many other places on the planet. War and other conflicts are bad for people, wildlife, ecosystems and the climate. Expect more conflicts as autocrats and kleptocrats continue to grab both power and natural resources. (And let’s not forget, if Trump gives up on Ukraine, all of Europe and Western Asia could suffer from potential further Russian aggression.)
V is for Vaccines.
Polio, anyone? Or a new global pandemic, perhaps bird flu? It might be time to stock up on masks again…
W is for Wildlife.
Treasure it.
X is for eXamples.
Trump and his allies are already publicly punishing people and organizations who stand up to them and trying to scare the rest of us into not fighting back. Support the systems that will defend these heroes in need.
X is also for X.
Elon Musk, owner of the social media site, has proven himself to be a destructive force. The environmental movement should divest itself from Musk products, including X and Tesla.
Y is for Yelling
Okay, maybe you don’t need to shout, but never be afraid to make your voice heard. Put your local representatives’ offices on speed dial.
Z is for Zero Ground.
Don’t stray from the ethical, moral, professional, legal, and scientific high ground. Don’t give an inch in the fight to protect people and the planet. Draw a line and don’t let them cross it. It will be tough, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt.
Previously in The Revelator:
