As extreme weather events intensify across the United States, environmental activists are launching a nationwide campaign to counter the trend of "climate hushing" among Democratic politicians, arguing that silence on the climate crisis is both politically misguided and dangerous.
The initiative, organized by the Climate Action Campaign, comes during the summer congressional recess, when lawmakers are back in their districts. Demonstrations and meetings are planned in at least 20 states over the next month, aiming to pressure representatives to put climate back on the political agenda.
Grassroots pressure key to progress
Bill McKibben, environmental author and co-founder of 350.org, emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilization. "The long history of the climate movement proves that we move fastest when there's real pressure from the grassroots," he said. "All the evidence shows those grassroots are as worried about [the] climate crisis as they ever were."
The actions involve a broad coalition, including local Sierra Club chapters, Third Act (a senior-led climate organization founded by McKibben), and NAACP affiliates. Margie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign, described it as "the broadest brush that we are working with." She added, "The message is, talk about climate, climate can't wait, and we want to see action."
Actions take many forms
The campaign began on Thursday with a variety of events. In Michigan, participants are demonstrating against Republican Representative Bill Huizenga, who voted for Trump's so-called "big beautiful bill" that boosted fossil fuels. In Arizona, young activists will meet with Democratic Representative Adelita Shirley Grijalva, a climate champion, to encourage her to continue speaking out. Other districts are circulating petitions calling on House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to prioritize climate issues, while some plan to connect the crisis to recent heatwaves.
Polling challenges 'climate hushing'
The campaign is backed by recent research that challenges the rationale for "climate hushing." A July study from the University of California, Santa Barbara found that emphasizing climate change is neutral to beneficial for Democratic candidates, suggesting it does not alienate voters and can even boost support in competitive races.
Public opinion appears to support this. A July poll from Data for Progress found that 61% of likely voters believe extreme weather has become more frequent over the past five years, including nearly half of Republicans. A Yale survey from June found that roughly two-thirds of Americans are worried about global warming, despite the Trump administration's dismissal of climate policy as a "scam" or "hoax."
Political opportunity or electoral risk?
McKibben sees a political opening. "Smart politicians will grab on this issue," he said. "There's perhaps no other question where the gulf between Maga and the general public is higher."
Alt dismissed "climate hushing" as "the climate denial of 2026," arguing that ignoring the crisis is poor strategy. "I don't think that ignoring the climate crisis is smart politics," she said. "I think that it is dropping the ball on the biggest threat the US and the world faces."
The campaign comes as this summer's extreme weather—from torrential rains in Texas to dangerous heat and wildfire smoke across the country—underscores the urgency. Activists hope their efforts will remind lawmakers that voters are paying attention and demand action now.
