The 5 states where environmental ballot initiatives triumphed

Climate change did not take center stage during this week’s presidential election; it did not even seem to be in the wings or in the theater. Instead, the U.S. elected a candidate who has a history of rolling back environmental protections and has spoken openly about his desire to “drill, baby, drill” for more fossil fuels.

But a handful of ballot initiatives showed that voters are, in many places, interested in shoring up climate resilience and conservation. “There’s no sugar-coating”...