After nearly two years of the Trump administration and its allies in Congress undermining human rights and chipping away at environmental protections, the midterm elections represented a huge opportunity to tip the balance of power.

There were some high-profile losses on election night. Ballot measures in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado and Washington that would've helped fight climate change were beaten as the fossil fuel industry poured in more than $100 million combined to defeat them. Some members of Congress who have been dedicated to suppressing women's rights and selling off wildlands held onto their seats.

But we also saw some important wins. With new House leadership, there's an opportunity for meaningful congressional oversight for Trump's disastrous environmental agenda and fewer attacks on reproductive rights. We also saw incredible local engagement that provides inspiration, energy and hope as we move forward. Read on for more election wins and the latest news in our fight to protect wildlife and wild places.

For the wild,

Crowded Planet / California communities have been struck hard by wildfires — the 130,000-acre Camp Fire in the northern part of the state has become the deadliest in the state's history, while the Woolsey Fire to the south has burned more than 97,000 acres and hundreds of structures. Meanwhile a proposal in San Diego County would put 40,000 additional residents in the heart of fire country.

Endangered Species / A Paris Agreement for Biodiversity?

World Wildlife Fund recently released its latest Living Planet Report, which found that wildlife populations have plummeted by 60 percent over the past four decades. During that time human population has more than doubled. Only a quarter of the planet is now free from human impact. If we continue on our current trajectory, we'll have nearly 10 billion people by 2050, with only one-tenth of the planet unaffected by human activity.

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity is preparing to meet this month to start discussing a new framework for global conservation efforts. Read more about why the UN calls biodiversity loss a "silent killer" and what it hopes will come from the new biodiversity agreement.

Take Action / Stop Dairy's Dirty Trick

Plant-based alternatives are winning at the grocery store, and that's great news for our health, climate, water and wildlife. Now the dairy industry is running scared, so it's working with its allies in the Trump administration to hurt the competition. It claims customers are confused when plant-based products use familiar terms like "milk," "yogurt" and "cheese," even though surveys show that's not true.

The FDA is taking comments on whether plant-based alternatives can continue using these terms. Tell the agency to allow plant-based foods to keep using familiar labels in the dairy aisle.

Wild Energy / Climate Wins in Portland

Voters in Portland, Ore. passed a groundbreaking proposal to advance the just transition to renewable energy. The Portland Clean Energy Initiative, a first-of-its-kind ballot measure, places a 1 percent tax on the largest corporations in the city to fund clean energy, efficiency improvements and green jobs.

Not only is this measure an example of the kind of bold action that's needed in climate policy, but it was developed by groups representing those most affected by the climate crisis, including the Coalition of Communities of Color and the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon. It was supported by more than 200 organizations, including the Center. Read more about this important victory.

Overconsumption / Opt Out of the Season of Waste

Thanksgiving weekend officially kicks off the holidays — and between now and the New Year, Americans will indulge in a season of overconsumption and waste. Over the next five weeks, U.S. households will generate 25 percent more trash than usual, including an extra 5 million tons in food waste alone.

Here's your chance to opt out of the madness. If you don't want others to add to the present-buying hysteria on your behalf, ask your friends to donate what they would've spent on your holiday gift to saving endangered species instead. Check out our step-by-step guide outlining how to set a goal and create a fundraiser for the Center for Biological Diversity in under 30 seconds on Facebook.

Population / Trump Rolls Back Birth Control Mandate

The day after the midterm elections, the Trump administration released final rules making it easier for employers to choose not to provide contraceptive coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires employer-provided health insurance to cover birth control. The mandate already allowed religious organizations to apply for an exemption. Trump just made that loophole a lot bigger — now nonprofits and some businesses can apply for an exemption based on religious or moral objections.

Without access to affordable contraception, millions of people could lose their ability to make the best reproductive decisions for their health and families. This loss of reproductive freedom is a threat to human rights and the planet. Read more about Trump's latest attack on reproductive rights.

Five Wild Picks / Ballot Measure Wins for Planet Earth

1) Florida bans offshore oil and gas drilling. Oil and gas exploration will now be prohibited in state waters with a new constitutional amendment.

2) Nevada increases renewable energy goals. Electric utilities are now a step closer to having to get half of their energy from renewable sources by 2030, doubling the previous target of 25 percent by 2025.

3) California ends extreme confinement on factory farms. In the strongest law of its type, California will restrict sales of eggs, pork and veal from factory farms that don't meet minimum space requirements for their animals. By reducing the concentrated waste that comes with extreme confinement, this law will help reduce some of the worse environmental impacts of factory farms.

4) Oregon protects abortion rights. An attempt to bar the use of public funds to pay for abortions, which would have hit low-income women hardest, was rejected as voters overwhelmingly chose to protect access to reproductive health care.

5) Multiple states expand voter rights. Florida voters restored the right to vote for 1.4 million people with prior felony convictions. Maryland, Michigan and Nevada removed barriers to voter registration that will make it easier for people to participate in future elections.