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

Jane Fonda, a significant figure in Hollywood renowned for her activism, is urging for renewed efforts to tackle political issues and enhance emissions reduction.

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

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

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

Fonda has spent much of the past decade highlighting this critical issue.

Her climate activism gained momentum in 2019 with the launch of “Fire Drill Fridays,” a series of weekly protests at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., aimed at criticizing climate inaction and advocating for the end of fossil fuel reliance. She has faced numerous arrests during these demonstrations.

“I turned 82 behind bars,” Fonda noted.

As protests produced limited success, Fonda became increasingly involved in the political landscape.

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 2024, according to the nonprofit Open Secrets.

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To enhance its impact, Fonda mentioned that her PAC is focusing on supporting down-ballot state and local elections, such as mayors, city council members, and state legislators. The organization has committed its support solely to Democrats.

“The priority is to elect climate advocates at every level across the nation, and we should have started yesterday,” she affirmed. According to Fonda, the PAC has already endorsed or backed around 170 candidates who have emerged victorious in their elections.

This year, climate policies are facing difficulties at the national level, with U.S. President Donald Trump in office and Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress.

Trump has reversed numerous policies, cut climate grants, and signed legislation this month that eliminates tax incentives for renewable energy and other carbon-reduction technologies like electric vehicles.

Fonda stated that her PAC is “creating a buffer” against Trump at the local and state levels. However, she stressed that overcoming these significant obstacles requires more than just funding and urged the audience to take action.

“Everyone needs to rise up, protest, and make their voices heard,” Fonda said, emphasizing the necessity of highlighting the consequences of Trump’s tax law. “Let’s not just talk about it—let’s take real action. We need to show true courage here. This is worth saving.”

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