Nova Dugan-Mezensky · March 24, 2025

Toolkit: Protect and Preserve Our Environment

Summary: Over the last four years, the IIJA, CHIPS Act, and IRA are all reshaping America’s economy. Nationally, the IRA alone has spurred over $350 billion in private investment and created more than 334,000 new jobs, with projections suggesting it could boost GDP by $200 billion and support up to 1.3 million jobs by 2030. Here in Ohio, these policies have already driven $10.5 billion in clean energy investments and nearly 13,900 new jobs since 2022. However, future changes to federal policy could significantly alter this progress.

However, President Trump and Project 2025 are striking down many efforts to reel in climate change which hurts Ohioans economy and our planet. All at the short-term benefit of big oil companies who are already posting record profits.

Ways the Trump Administration is Undoing Climate Action

EPA Deregulation
Cutting Down More Trees in our National Forests (EO)
NOAA Staff Cuts
- One of Project 2025’s proposals was that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which handles weather monitoring, should be dismantled and the National Weather Service should commercialize its weather forecasting. The Trump administration has reportedly fired hundreds of NOAA staffers and canceled leases at some weather forecasting centers, sparking fears that the cuts could affect preparedness and responses to future storms.
Withdrawing From Paris Accords (EO)
- Project 2025 proposed leaving the Paris Climate Agreement, which Trump did on his first day in office, and the president’s broad proposals to roll back climate change policies is in line with Project 2025.
Evaluating FEMA (EO)
- Project 2025 proposed the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be moved to the Department of the Interior and reformed, which Trump suggested he may do.
Ramping up Oil and Gas Production in Protected Areas (EO)
EPA Cuts
Pausing Electric Vehicle Adoption
Banning Paper Straws (EO)
Trump declared a “national energy emergency”
- Trump has broadly taken action against efforts on renewable energy, like the Biden administration’s pro-electric vehicle policies and federal wind energy projects, saying the U.S. should instead increase energy production through oil and gas drilling, after Project 2025 similarly claimed the U.S.’ “energy crisis is caused … by extreme ‘green’ policies” and said the next president “must be committed to unleashing all of America’s energy resources.”
Trump created a “National Energy Dominance Council”
- This was created in order to “make America energy dominant,” after Project 2025 urged the next administration to “prioritize energy and science dominance.”

Guidance

Make it clear that Trump’s moves to rollback environment protections and green energy initiatives will harm us all
Connect Trump’s actions to a specific economic or environmental result: higher energy prices, lower job growth, dirtying our air and water while hurting our planet for future generations
Explain the “why”: to give Trump’s billionaire campaign backers more power and profit

General Messaging

Raging wildfires and increasingly damaging hurricanes, our planet is in crisis because greedy billionaires want more power over lives. Now, Trump wants to make it worse for us by removing protections that keep our air and water clean and ending green initiatives to spur Ohio job growth and help save our planet.

Donald Trump doesn’t care about us or the environment. He’s rolling back tools to fight climate change and our investments into clean energy right here in Ohio. Trump is only looking out after his rich campaign backers so that they can make even more profit and have more control over our lives.

Save the Planet Messaging

We can combat the effects of climate change and preserve a safe and livable planet for future generations by investing in reliable, efficient, and inexpensive forms of renewable energy. We need strong leaders who embrace smart policies that will move us toward a healthier future for the next generation.

The mountains we hike, the oceans we navigate, and all the Earth’s natural treasures are precious. By combating climate change through the use of clean, renewable energy, we can protect the air, water, and land we love to explore.

Renewable Energy Messaging (Ohio Focus)

Investing in renewable energy will build an economy where our children can grow, learn, and thrive here in Ohio for decades to come. New advances in clean energy means safer air for our kids to breathe and a better environment to play.

Ohio is primed to be the center of the clean energy technology boom that will bring hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs to our state and revitalize our communities. By diversifying our energy sources, renewable energy will decrease energy costs for families and make Ohio energy independent.

Messaging DO’s and DON’Ts

DOs	DONTs
Use pro-clean energy messaging	Use anti-fossil fuel messaging
Lead with shared values like “fairness”, “clean drinking water”, and “a planet for generations to come”.	Focus only on animals or ecosystems impacted by climate change
Name the villain – dangerous billionaire backers – and their motivations.	Blame climate change for our problems, instead of blaming the profiteers who encourage climate change
Frame Trump’s actions to impacting everyday life: hotter weather, more storms, rising sea levels	Use jargon or technical terms. Keep the message clear and accessible to a broad audience.
Reinforce how Trump and Musk rolling back environmental protections are reckless and will create chaos in every community of the country	Allow the conversation to be about the size and scope of the federal government
Name impacted areas in Ohio: Ohio river, lake Erie, hocking hill, etc.	Be generic in your terminology where an Ohio audience might not connect with: “mountains”, “beaches”. “Islands”.
Messaging on renewable energy having an element of education: “green jobs are the fastest growing sector in Ohio”	Assuming the audience knows everything about climate change and green renewable energy.