Major legal wins have come from activist-led lawsuits targeting federal rollback efforts. In Montana, a youth-led case dubbed Held v. Montana successfully argued that the state’s refusal to consider greenhouse gas emissions in permitting violated the constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment.” This landmark decision, first upheld in August 2023 and then again by the state Supreme Court in December 2024, marked the first time in U.S. history a state constitutional court recognized environmental rights in this way. Meanwhile, 22 young people filed a separate suit in federal court in Montana against former President Trump’s executive orders promoting fossil fuels. They assert these actions violate their Fifth Amendment rights to life and liberty, citing worsening wildfire conditions impacting their health.
These courtroom successes are reshaping perceptions of climate law as a viable avenue to enforce environmental protections—even amid federal policy reversals.
At the state level, progressive momentum continues. New York and California are actively defending and strengthening climate policy. California’s Renewable Energy Associations petitioned Governor Newsom for quicker environmental reviews and land-use reforms to offset newly imposed federal tax credit reductions—critical to sustaining clean energy growth. New York’s PSC, despite federal hurdles, has approved major offshore wind projects like Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind, reinforcing the state’s 70% renewable-energy-by-2030 target. Meanwhile, Columbia University’s Sabin Center helped launch a “Model Climate Laws Initiative” to assist states with drafting robust emissions reduction and clean energy promotion laws—mirroring conservative model-legal strategies.
Simultaneously, renewable energy projects achieved significant milestones. The Maryland Offshore Wind project received final environmental clearances in January 2025 and expects phased operations between 2029 and 2030. Offshore giants Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind have secured critical federal and state approvals, with Sunrise deploying advanced HVDC transmission to power 600,000 homes by 2027. These construction starts mark a leap forward for U.S. offshore wind capacity.
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Despite aggressive federal rollbacks under the “Project 2025” blueprint—which prioritizes fossil fuel development, slashes renewable tax credits, and adds layers of scrutiny over clean energy projects—state and subnational actors are keeping the climate transition alive. Litigation has emerged as a potent tool for climate defenders: courts are increasingly ruling in favor of environmental accountability even as federal policy regresses.
While federal tax credits for renewables are being phased out and approval processes slowed, private-sector investments and state-led financial support are filling the gaps. Organizations like Climate United have secured billions to finance low-income, community-based climate projects—though delays remain as court battles play out.
All told, 2025’s climate wins emerged from a decentralized and multifaceted movement. Whether through constitutional litigations, proactive state legislation, or offshore wind breakthroughs, these wins signal that progress can persist—even when federal leadership is absent. As courts continue to endorse environmental rights and states surge ahead with laws and infrastructure, U.S. decarbonization efforts may remain on an upward trajectory despite the shifting federal winds.
