The EcoAdvocate

March 2022 Newsletter

Urge the County Board to Invest More in Climate Change Action Now

Arlington’s proposed FY-2023 Budget includes energy and the environment for the first time as a priority and includes some increased spending for implementation of the Community Energy Plan (CEP). Plans to expand the County’s electric vehicle fleet and EV charging infrastructure, explore rooftop solar on government facilities, and create a $1 million CEP Action fund are laudable but fall short of the ambitious action needed to address climate change. County funding needs to be directed toward actions that will drive greenhouse gas reductions down rapidly both within County operations and the public sector, which accounts for 96 percent of Arlington’s emissions.

The FY 2023 Budget should propose energy and climate-purposed investments that address the urgency of lowering our carbon footprint.

Make sure that County Board members know you support higher investment in addressing climate change for a livable future for our families and for all Arlingtonians by sending an email to: countyboard@arlingtonva.us or speaking at the public hearing on the FY-2023 Budget on March 29 at 7:00 pm.

Take Action: Arlington Needs a Climate Leader

The Arlington County Board is deciding soon whether to hire a Chief Climate Officer as part of next year’s budget. Let them hear from you! You can send a personalized email to all County Board members at: countyboard@arlingtonva.us or send a message now via the Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter:

Take Action: Ask the County Board to hire a Chief Climate Officer

Arlington needs a senior-level Chief Climate Officer empowered to put climate concerns at the forefront of every major decision, provide guidance to align county policies, plans, regulations, and procedures with the imperatives of quickly reducing greenhouse gas, and develop and implement new programs and initiatives to promote the necessary transformations throughout the Arlington Community.

Upcoming Events

Earth Day Cleanup

Saturday, April 23

Bon Air Park

EcoArt: A Mixed Media Art Exploration

Saturday, April 30

Arlington Arts Center

The EcoAdvocate is compiled by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee.

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EcoAction Arlington's mission is to promote stewardship of our natural resources and practical solutions for a sustainable community. The EcoAction Advocacy Committee engages in public discussion and promotes civic engagement among its members to influence government action to support its mission. EcoAction Arlington is a non-profit and non-partisan organization.