Bloomberg Law: States Embrace Climate Leadership as Trump Heads to White House

Environmental progress will largely depend on a state’s political affiliation if federal rules loosen, said Bob Martineau, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation from 2011 to 2018. Blue states like California will scramble to bolster environmental protections, Martineau said. Red states, meanwhile, could feel emboldened to roll back policies.

Cities can also step in. Justin Bibb—the Democratic mayor of Cleveland and chair of the Climate Mayors organization—released a statement reaffirming 350 mayors’ commitment to local climate action “in the absence of national leadership.”

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell (D) pointed to energy efficiency, green job opportunities, and severe weather event preparation as key going forward.

“Every election is a climate election at this point, and it is more clear than ever that cities must lead,” O’Connell said in an emailed statement.