The dramatic shift at the federal level away from the environmental protections that a broad majority of Americans support makes the need for effective, state-level climate action crystal clear.  

If states lead the way, research from the University of Maryland suggests that we can still reach some of our most critical climate goals even as federal action grinds to a halt.   

For almost forty years, Western Resource Advocates has been driving state policies that advance clean energy, help our rivers thrive, and protect the landscapes and wildlife of the West. 

When the federal government reverses course, states can step up. The 2023 Sackett vs. EPA Supreme Court decision gutted federal protections for wetlands and streams, leaving them vulnerable to contamination from mining, construction, and development. WRA helped Colorado become the first state in the nation to pass legislation restoring these protections. And in 2025, thanks to our regional approach, we did the same for New Mexico’s waters.

We advance solutions that are uniquely adapted to each state’s environment, culture, and needs. By focusing on the specifics in each state, we maximize outcomes, reduce costs, center communities, and build lasting change – while leveraging our advocacy in seven states to make a regional impact.

Will you join WRA as we double down on state action?

This is WRA’s strength. It’s how we’ve secured more than 91 million tons of emissions reductions annually by 2030. It’s how we’ve protected more than two thousand miles of rivers. And how we have added new protections to more than 8.75 million acres of Western habitat.    

Despite federal hostility to climate action, we know that critical progress can continue on the ground — in state capitols, at regulatory commissions, and in city council chambers throughout the West. And we know that progress is possible because we’ve helped make it happen.  

Learn how state level solutions can make a difference in fighting climate change – even in the face of federal threats.