In this newsletter: Chair’s Report: 2025 | Winter Meeting Debrief

On Tap: FL & LA |  Candidate Training  | Council in NE, MI, LA

 Council On the Air, Online | Mobilize for Climate | Big Swing in TN

Your Climate Story | Recommended

Friends, there is no sugarcoating this. This year, 2026, will be one of the most consequential years we have had in a long time.

As we watch the horrifying images out of Minnesota and witness this Administration’s endless assault on our freedoms and rights, we know our best opportunity for accountability and for putting a check on this out-of-control authoritarian administration is coming up in just a few short months with the November elections. 

We have defeated MAGA before, and we need to once again. 

And that is what the Council will be focused on this year. We are going to fight with everything we have to ensure that Democrats win seats up and down the ballot, take back control of the Senate and House, and lay the groundwork to take back the White House. 

And we know the environment is a winning issue for Democrats, including for key demographics we need to turn out in November that could well be the difference. And the Council is well-positioned to engage, in collaboration with allies and partners inside and outside of the Party.

So as we enter this consequential year, I, and the Council, are all in. 

All in order to hold this Administration accountable. All in to put a brake on their abuse of power. All in to ensure we turn out voters in November. And all in order to protect our environment and fight the climate crisis. 

I hope you are all in too. Because it is going to take all of us. 

In service and solidarity,

Michelle Regalado Deatrick
Chair and Founder, DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council

⭐ BIGGEST YEAR EVER: Chair’s Report on the Council’s Work in 2025

We are proud of the work the Council has done and is doing: our foundation is strong for the crucial work of 2026. Last year, the Council held, co-hosted or spoke at nearly 100 events, worked to elect Democrats, held our largest Earth Month Mobilization ever, and continued to build out our network of state and local environmental caucuses and councils! Read the full Chair’s Report here.

📣 BRIEFING: Council’s Winter Meeting

The Council’s Winter Meeting in Los Angeles was exciting, interactive, and informative thanks to dynamic speakers on energy affordability, renewable energy, tax credits, and data centers — all key issues in downballot races. We are so grateful to the speakers, Council, and community members who came, shared their climate stories and their experiences with us, including keynote speaker Congressperson Laura Friedman (CA-30); DNC Chair Ken Martin; ASDC President Jane Kleeb; and CA Democrats Environmental Caucus Chair RL Miller.

Melissa Grant, President of Grassroots Democrats HQ and California DNC Member Michael Kapp spoke of their terrifying experiences in the California Pacific Palisades fire in January 2025, which destroyed Grant’s home.

Katie Thomas, Director of Livable Futures at We Build Progress (formerly the Progressive Caucus Center) presented Green Energy Municipal Bonds, addressing how municipalities can raise money via bond issues in order to invest in community owned renewable energy. Katie’s presentation slides and more information on green energy municipal bonds here.

📆 ON TAP: Council Heads to Florida and Louisiana

The Council’s National Listening and Organizing Tour continues in Florida, in conjunction with events organized by the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida.

February 1, 1pm ET: Think Green, Vote Blue
(Florida, virtual)

Chair Deatrick is thrilled to be sharing her thoughts on campaigning on environmental issues and the upcoming electoral cycle, alongside rockstar leaders Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried and Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida President Judy Freiberg on February 1st. RSVP here.

Jan. 31, 4pm ET: Good Green Trouble Environmental Justice Town Hall

(Jacksonville, Florida, in person)

Join the Duval Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida (DECF) and the Florida DECF Environmental Justice Coalition for a powerful Community Meet & Greet and Listening Event focused on environmental justice in Florida’s Duval County. This town hall creates space for residents to share lived experiences, concerns, and solutions related to contaminated land, water, air, and environmental health disparities — especially in historically redlined and impacted communities. More information and RSVP here.

Feb 2, 6:30 pm ET: Election 2026 - Listening and Organizing Meeting
Topic: Climate & Affordable Energy Move the Needle

With Univ. of Florida College Dems, Sunrise Gainesville, genCLEO at UF

(Gainesville, Florida, in person)

At this listening and organizing event, Council Chair Michelle Deatrick will discuss the work of the Council and how to get involved, explore climate, environment, and affordable energy as winning issues for 2026, discuss the key importance of youth, leadership, and votes — and listen to your climate concerns and questions. Registration information is coming soon.

Mid-February: Listening & Organizing Tour in Wisconsin 

(Madison, Wisconsin, in person)

Details forthcoming soon.

April 9: Spring Climate Council Council Meeting in Louisiana
(New Orleans, Louisiana, in person)

You’re invited! During the DNC’s Spring convening in New Orleans (which runs from April 9-11), the Council will hold an in-person meeting with great speakers, a panel, and ways to get involved with the Council. Find registration and event information on social media and in the next newsletter.

📝 TRAINING: Lead Locally Training for Climate Candidates

We are big fans of the work done by Lead Locally, and are excited that they are offering a free online training for potential candidates, covering campaigning from soup to nuts — messaging, fundraising, field, and climate policy. Starts February 3. Sign up.

🚙 COUNCIL ON THE ROAD: NE, MI, LA

Nebraska: YDA Winter Meeting & Nebraska Dems Climate Council

In Omaha, Chair Deatrick discussed climate and environmental justice issues at the YDA Winter Meeting and at a listening session hosted by the Nebraska Democratic Party’s Climate Council. Chair Deatrick, an Honorary Lifetime Member of YDA, met with both the dynamic new Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party’s Environmental Justice Caucus Chase, Jacques-Maynes, and recently elected Kent Ohio School Board Member PJ Errera (congratulations, PJ!). At the Nebraska Climate Council meeting Chair Deatrick was thrilled to speak alongside Chair April Thompson and Vice Chair Ean Rye-Craft.

Michigan: Young Democrats’ Demsgiving

Chair Deatrick spoke on climate action, the importance of the Democratic party in looking at races across the ballot, and the significance and power of youth leadership at this Thanksgiving celebration.

Louisiana: Listening & Organizing Tour

At rallies, town halls, College Dems meetings, and numerous community meetings, Chair Deatrick spoke with and listened to people across Louisiana, including at several universities: Louisiana State University - Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, Tulane University, and the University of Louisiana - Monroe. At campus after campus, students and community members shared their concerns about climate change harms, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

The Chair’s tour included Cancer Alley, an 85 mile stretch of the Mississippi River of 20,000+ people, where 200+ petrochemical and fossil fuel plants have pushed out the fig and pecan trees, the vegetable plots, and the fish that people once harvested and tended. Bioneers Project Manager and Indigenous leader Britt Gandolfi, who grew up in the poisoned environment, generously spent a day showing and teaching Chair Deatrick about the region’s history, communities, and occupation by toxic corporate interests.

We deeply appreciate Louisiana Democratic Party Vice Chair Katie Darling’s great work organizing the tour and welcoming the Chair to Louisiana.

🎤 COUNCIL ON THE AIR & ONLINE: Coffee with Dems, HSDA

Chair Deatrick on the Coffee With Democrats Podcast

In a fast-paced discussion with host Kevin Dawson and in Q&A with folks calling into the show, Chair Deatrick discussed green jobs, green energy, data centers, farming contributions to global heating and progress on addressing them, the DNC Climate Council’s work, and climate action messaging. Watch the interview.

Chair Deatrick Meets with High School Dems Women's Caucus

During this special livestream hosted by the High School Democrats Women’s Caucus, Chair Deatrick discussed the disproportionate impact of the climate and environmental crises on women and girls, women's leadership, and the challenges for 2026 — and her own path to environmental and political activism and leadership.

📍MOBILIZE: Organize and Act for Climate Action & Victory

Find or host a Democratic event near you on our event map (scroll down for the map). Use our event host toolkit to plan your own event: post on our map and the Council will publicize.

💪 TENNESSEE SPECIAL ELECTION: Huge Swing, Enthusiasm, Determination

The Council campaigned on the phones, at the doors, and at events for Aftyn Behn for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. The volunteerism and organizing by the Tennessee Democratic Party was electric. The results of this race were impressive, as were the efforts of state party leaders and volunteers. In a deeply red state, Behn, who is a health care, climate and affordability champion, earned a 13 point swing.

📬 CALL TO ACTION: Share your Climate Story

Short quotes, videos — how is climate change affecting you? Have you experienced a heat wave? Asthma worse from wildfires? Flash flooding? Can’t get home insurance? Utility bills up? How is Trump making climate worse? We will help create, share and amplify: This is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference. 

Share your story.

📚 RECOMMENDED

• SIGN UP: We Build Progress's Unrig the Rules shares timely analysis of breaking Congressional news, Capitol Hill timelines and processes, and potential outcomes. Sign up here.
• CLIMATE IMPACT ATLAS: The Climate Emergency in Data, an interactive atlas tool from the UN, offers data and analysis on current and projected climate impacts.
• DATA CENTER TOOLKIT:  Very helpful for municipalities working to push back on rampant data center development: North Star Data Center Toolkit