Jane Fonda: Confronting the Twin Challenges of Climate Change and Democracy -

Jane Fonda, a notable figure in Hollywood recognized for her advocacy, is urging for renewed initiatives to tackle political failures and promote emissions reduction efforts.

“We are confronted with two urgent crises, and it’s now or never: democracy and climate,” the 87-year-old Fonda stated at the Bloomberg Green Seattle conference on Monday.

Read: Open Secrets: How major consulting firms are profiting from the climate emergency

“We are losing both the democratic structures and the climate stability crucial for democracy. We need to address them together,” she continued.

For much of the past ten years, Fonda has been actively raising awareness on this topic.

Her climate advocacy surged in 2019 with the launch of “Fire Drill Fridays,” a series of weekly demonstrations at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, aimed at protesting climate inaction and promoting an end to fossil fuel reliance. Fonda has faced multiple arrests during these events.

“I turned 82 while in jail,” Fonda noted.

As protests produced limited outcomes, Fonda became more engaged in the political sphere.

In 2022, she established the Jane Fonda Climate Political Action Committee (PAC) to support political candidates and organizations. The PAC raised nearly $2 million during the 2022 election cycle and over $5.7 million for the 2024 election, as reported by the nonprofit Open Secrets.

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To enhance impact, Fonda explained that her PAC is focusing on backing down-ballot state and local elections, including mayors, city council members, and state legislators. The group is exclusively supporting Democrats.

“The priority is to elect climate champions at all levels across the nation, and we should have started yesterday,” she asserted. The PAC has already endorsed or supported about 170 candidates who have successfully won their elections, according to Fonda.

This year, climate policies are encountering obstacles at the national level, with US President Donald Trump in office and Republicans controlling both houses of Congress.

Trump has reversed many policies, cut climate funding, and signed legislation this month phasing out tax incentives for renewable energy and other carbon reduction technologies, including electric vehicles.

Fonda mentioned that her PAC is “creating a buffer” against Trump at local and state levels. However, she stressed that confronting these critical challenges requires more than just financial resources and implored the audience to take action.

“Everyone must rise up, protest, and make their voices heard,” Fonda urged, highlighting the need to illuminate the effects of Trump’s tax law. “Let’s not just talk about it—let’s take meaningful action. We need to be genuinely bold here. This is worth fighting for.”

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