The fight to protect the health, safety and security of the American people from climate change is more important today than ever before. Donald Trump’s record as president and his campaign promises make that clear. His allies have written a sweeping plan to dismantle the United States’ ability to fight climate change, limit life-threatening pollution and make investments to build a clean and sustainable future.  

The U.S. cannot exit the global energy innovation race in the misguided and nostalgic pursuit of dirty and finite fossil fuels. It’s a dead end. For America to remain competitive and prosper while reducing its climate pollution, the only path forward is a swift and urgent transition to abundant clean energy.  

Environmental Defense Fund will not waver in our work for progress. We will fight extreme agendas with everything we've got and continue working — in the states, with businesses and among nations — toward a stronger, brighter future with affordable and reliable clean energy, family-sustaining jobs in clean manufacturing and healthier, more resilient communities.  

That starts by making sure the U.S. is not left behind as the world transitions to a cleaner economy, continuing investments in clean energy and protecting carefully crafted federal rules that reduce pollution and support people’s health by defeating nominees who would undermine them.   

Most Americans want a stable climate and safer, healthier future for their children. A changing climate affects everyone, regardless of political affiliation, and what happens over the next four years is of profound importance if we are to head off the worst harms of a warming world.   

The climate crisis requires seriousness and urgency — and it requires holding our government accountable. This fight is about protecting who and what we love. 

Fred Krupp is president of the Environmental Defense Fund. Amanda Leland is the executive director for Environmental Defense Fund.