Our Top 11 Environmental Victories of 2024
The Sierra Club

(December 20, 2024) — Despite all this year has thrown at us, Sierra Club members, volunteers, and advocates like you achieved powerful wins to protect our environment, climate, and communities.
Worsening ecological crises and an incoming Trump administration mean these victories are more important than ever, but some of them are now at risk. In the years ahead, we’ll have our work cut out for us to defend all that we can. But today, join us to appreciate what we’ve accomplished together. Let’s face it — we could all use a little more good news.
Here are 11 Sierra Club victories we’re celebrating from 2024:

#1: CRACKED DOWN ON POWER PLANT POLLUTION

Tens of thousands of Sierra Club supporters submitted comments to the EPA, pushing them to create new pollution standards on existing coal and gas power plants. These standards will save thousands of lives and clean up millions of tons of air and climate pollution.

#2: BLOCKED NEW LNG EXPORTS

After years of advocacy, the Biden administration paused approvals on liquified methane gas exports (LNG). We will continue to fight to stop these dangerous proposed gas export facilities and hold oil and gas companies responsible for harming people and the planet.

#3: PROTECTED NATIONAL LANDSCAPES

We protected over 250 million acres of public land, and successfully pushed President Biden to protect another 120,000 acres of landscapes by designating and expanding national monuments.

#4: FOUGHT FOR BIODIVERSITY

We called upon the White House to develop a National Biodiversity Strategy. We also passed legislation that helped fund migratory bird research and habitat restoration, and safeguarded protections for vulnerable species like the northern long-eared bat and lesser prairie-chicken.

#5: BROUGHT CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS NATIONWIDE

Sierra Club staff and volunteers helped bring billions of dollars in clean energy investments through the Inflation Reduction Act to rural communities, launched clean appliance rebate programs in states across the country, and secured funding for electric school buses to improve air quality for children.

#6: CONNECTED VETERANS WITH NATURE

Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors campaign conducted a coast to coast listening tour to hear from the military and veteran community, and local Sierra Club chapters engaged with 5,000 veterans in outdoor activities. Our policy recommendations influenced the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve outdoor access for veterans.

#7: PROTECTED CLEAN AIR FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

Tens of thousands of Sierra Club members and supporters took action to push the EPA to implement stricter pollution limits for cars and trucks, which will dramatically reduce dangerous air pollution.

#8: LAUNCHED AN INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION CAMPAIGN

Sierra Club’s newest campaign is working to bring clean manufacturing back to the U.S. while reducing pollution, supporting workers, and protecting communities. This year alone, we helped secure $6 billion for clean manufacturing projects.

#9: SECURED HISTORIC FUNDING FOR PARKS AND TREES

We urged the Biden administration to make its largest investments ever into local parks — $1 billion in grants through the Urban and Community Forestry Program and $255 million in grants through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program — to ensure more communities can enjoy nature.

#10: FOUGHT FOR TRIBAL RIGHTS AND WORKED TO RESTORE SALMON

We secured commitments from the Biden administration to lay the groundwork for the removal of the four lower Snake River Dams. Removing dams will help to restore salmon and honor the Treaty Rights of the Nez Perce, Yakama, Umatilla, and Warm Springs Tribes.

#11: EXPANDED EQUITABLE OUTDOOR ACCESS FOR ALL

Congress just voted to pass the bipartisan outdoor recreation package, Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. This legislation will create more equitable, inclusive, and expanded access to the outdoors for young people, families, veterans, and people across many communities.

As we look ahead, we know we’re in for some hard years under a Trump administration. But we are not powerless. In every community, there are people fighting for our families, for our futures, for the places we call home.

Together, we can defend our planet and build on the progress we’ve made. Together, we can fight to block Trump and his Big Polluter accomplices. Together, we will be a force of nature.

Thank you for all you did to make these victories possible.
Sierra Club