It might feel like an altogether different era, but this was reality less than two years ago: The Inflation Reduction Act was accelerating utility-scale solar and battery storage buildout. The SEC was working through its mandatory requirements to report on climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions (though it faced substantial legal challenges). The EPA finalized its methane rule, probably the most aggressive methane regulation in U.S. history, targeting oil and gas operations.
Federal climate and sustainability momentum have fallen off a cliff since then. But that is going to change — and, if recent history is any indicator, it could change very fast.
Here’s why — on the most critical issues of the day, American discontent is broad and bipartisan: 61% of people disapprove of the war in Iran; 72% want more AI regulation; 70% of Americans believe large corporations and the energy industry are doing too little to address climate. Meanwhile, the president’s approval rating on the economy is 27% and his overall disapproval rating is nearly 60%. That’s a snippet of the energy of the country heading into the mid-terms, now less than six months away.
What does this mean for sustainability professionals? Let’s dig in.
Read more: Climate action is still moving forward — you just have to know where to look
The mid-terms are coming soon
A lot can change in six months, and it's likely going to be a tumultuous summer. The West just had one of its warmest, driest winters ever, and meteorologists are predicting a super El Niño, which could supercharge the start of hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific. Expect large wildfires, compromised air quality, and massive floods, not to mention increasing angst over AI, climate, and the cost of goods while the war with Iran continues.
This will all be top of mind when voters head to the polls on November 3 for the U.S. mid-term elections. Historically, the party out of the White House overperforms in the mid-terms and gains seats, and this year, 33 Senate seats are up for grabs. If Democrats regain the House and narrowly lose the Senate that would likely mean even fewer laws getting passed, but more investigations, oversight, and accountability. A check on further rollback. And a political signal that corporate sustainability leaders should watch closely.
Meanwhile, the arenas where climate action never really slowed — cities, states, and courts — keep moving regardless of what happens in Washington.
The culture shift
Here's what might matter even more than congressional swings: vibe shifts.
Amid a wave of growing discontent — record inequality and federal political inefficacy — the public mood on climate has been quietly hardening. As of fall 2025, 52% of Americans are "Alarmed" or "Concerned" about global warming, according to Yale's Climate Change in the American Mind survey. The "Alarmed" segment alone has more than doubled since 2015, reaching 25%, and now outnumbers the "Dismissive" by more than 2 to 1. A fall 2025 survey found that 83% of people around the world believe global warming is caused by human activity, and 80% think more highly of companies that are leaders in reducing their environmental impact.
Meanwhile, most Americans are growing increasingly skeptical of big business. As of early 2026, roughly 79% of U.S. voters distrust large corporations, with widespread bipartisan agreement that they prioritize profits over the public good, according to a March 2026 Cygnal poll. Only 20% trust large companies to act in the best interest of ordinary Americans, while 83% believe corporations have too much political influence.
For companies that cut their sustainability commitments, this is the public they're answering to.
What does this mean for your strategy?
Despite the federal backslide on sustainability since 2024, nothing has fundamentally changed: We still need to rapidly decarbonize to avoid the worst consequences of climate change; every American still wants clean air and water and a better future for their children; people still believe corporations should be held accountable. In that context, cutting the sustainability program was always a short-term, risky play.
What has changed is that customers have gotten smarter about which companies to trust, which claims to be skeptical about, and our window to do something about climate change has narrowed. There's also a tremendous vacuum for corporate leadership right now. Some companies will wait to see and react based on the mood of the moment. The smart companies will be proactive and double down on the work. The question is where you want your company to be when the tide turns, and it will turn.
