Not to be confused with 350.Org’s “Climate Defenders” initiative

Climate Defenders (also known as Climate Defenders Action) is an environmentalist activist group that has organized and participated in demonstrations and other protest movements advocating against conventional sources of energy like oil and natural gas while arguing in favor of weather-dependent energy sources and government regulations requiring their adoption. ^{1 2}

The group claims to be a registered 501(c)(4) organization on its website. However, the group also states that it has a fiscal sponsor; a link leads to the page for Climate Organizing Hub, which is in turn fiscally sponsored by New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI), a left-of-center fundraising outfit based in Brooklyn, New York. ^{3 4}

In March 2025, Climate Defenders was one of several organizations that participated in “#TeslaTakedown,” a series of national protests outside dealerships of electric-vehicle manufacturer Tesla over its CEO Elon Musk’s work with the second Trump administration. ⁵

Background

Climate Defenders describes itself as a “multigenerational and multiracial” organization “fighting to end the fossil fuel industry” which it blames for “pollut[ing] our air, poison[ing] our water, and dump[ing] toxins.”  ¹

The organization also claims that “climate change touch[es] every single injustice Black and Brown communities face,” while urging “Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities to unite and build our power.” ^{1 6 7} It has claimed its activities are similar to the “civil rights movements and immigration movements” in employing “nonviolent direct action.” ⁷

Activities

The group has taken part in and organized demonstrations and other protest movements against the oil industry and other traditional energy companies while advocating economic and environmental policies favoring weather-dependent energy sources it claims will bring “good-paying jobs, clean air, water, public transportation, and a livable future.” ¹ The group has also advocated for proposals towards creating a “new equitable economy” through “safe and secure housing, healthcare, and safety for everyone.” ^{6 7}

In September 2023, Climate Defenders was one of several organizations to participate in the “March to End Fossil Fuels” demonstration in New York City outside the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that advocated for then-President Joe Biden to end the financing of oil and gas companies. Other groups involved included New York Communities for Change, Extinction Rebellion NYC, Climate Organizing Hub, and 350.org. ⁸

Tesla Takedown

In March 2025, Climate Defenders participated in and co-sponsored “#TeslaTakedown,” a series of national protests against electric car company Tesla over its CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the second Trump administration with the stated goal of “tanking [Musk’s] stock value.” ^{5 9}

More than 200 demonstrations at Tesla locations were officially planned, and some estimated that over 500 demonstrations took place. ¹⁰ Several activists with Climate Defenders also accused Tesla of “polluting our neighborhoods with toxic air,” “destroying forests and ecosystems,” and “prioritiz[ing] profits over people.” ¹¹

#NoKings Protests

In June 2025, Climate Defenders participated in organizing or supporting protests branded under the “#NoKings” banner, a national day of demonstrations positioned as a defense of democratic norms against Donald Trump. These events were part of a larger mobilization involving over 70 Democratic Party affiliates and allied organizations across at least 19 U.S. states and multiple international locations, according to publicly available event listings on Mobilize.us, a Democratic Party-aligned organizing platform. ^{12 13}

Related Organization

The group claims to be a registered 501(c)(4) organization on its website. However, the group also states that it has a fiscal sponsor; a link leads to the page for Climate Organizing Hub, which is in turn fiscally sponsored by New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI), a left-of-center fundraising group based in Brooklyn, New York. ^{3 4}

NYCOFI, Climate Defenders Action’s parent organization, received $45,000 from Vocal NY in 2023, $50,000 from Spring Street Climate Fund in 2022, $10,000 from 350.org in 2021, $155,000 from Public Policy and Education Fund of New York in 2020, and $42,750 from Food & Water Watch in 2019. ^{14 15 16 17 18}

In 2019, Food and Water Watch, an environmental activist group, gave $42,750 to NYCOFI. ¹⁹

1. “ClimateDefenders.” Climate Defenders. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.climatedefendersaction.org/.
2. “Climate Defenders.” 350.org. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://350.org/climate-defenders/.
3. “Donate.” Climate Defenders. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://secure.everyaction.com/kwsj6JIRDUiArsubvU6aGA2
4. “Climate Organizing Hub.” NYCOFI. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.nycofi.org/climate-organizing-hub-donation-page.
5. “Tesla Takedown NYC – March 29th.” ActionNetwork, Saturday March 29, 2025. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://actionnetwork.org/events/tesla-takedown-nyc-march-29th?source=uv-email.
6. “Climate Defenders.” Action Network. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://actionnetwork.org/groups/climatedefenders.
7. “About.” Climate Defenders. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.climatedefendersaction.org/about.
8. Noor, Dharna. “Climate activists block Federal Reserve bank, calling for end to fossil fuel funding.” The Guardian, September 18, 2023. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/18/climate-activists-block-new-york-federal-reserve-bank.
9. Post. Asra Normani – X. March 30, 2025. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://x.com/AsraNomani/status/1906281197430329459.
10. Elassar, Alaa; Bacon, Auzinea; Greene, Connor. “Over 200 ‘Tesla Takedown’ protests take place throughout US on ‘Global Day of Action’ against Elon Musk’s role with DOGE.” CNN, March 29, 2025. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/29/business/tesla-takedown-elon-musk-doge/index.html.
11. Post. Climate Defenders Action – Instagram, March 2025. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/climatedefendersaction/reel/DG6VuHWxUJz/
12. “Partners.” No Kings. Accessed June 25, 2025. https://www.nokings.org/partners.
13. Nomani, Asra. “Asra Nomani: The Familiar Hidden Hand behind Today’s #nokings Protests.” Fox News, June 14, 2025.https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/asra-nomani-familiar-hidden-hand-behind-todays-nokings-protests.
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Voices of Community Activists and Leaders Vocal NY. 2023. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Spring Street Climate Fund. 2022. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
16. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 350.org. 2021. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Public Policy and Education Fund of New York. 2020. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
18. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Food and Water Watch. 2019. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
19. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Food and Water Watch. 2019. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/320160439/202013219349306801/full”)