While we hope for international progress at the Brazil summit or look forward to a more climate-friendly U.S. Congress next year, we can score climate wins right here with your help. 

How our cities and suburbs function impacts 70% of global carbon pollution. Smart growth is essential. As UN climate reports describe: “Reducing emissions from cities will involve smart urban planning to reduce and manage waste, and making cities more compact, walkable and efficient.” (UN 2023 Global Stocktake)

Here are some ways to take action locally in the DMV:

1. Talk about climate change with your family and friends – This is the first and perhaps most important thing you can do. Most Americans are concerned, but few talk about it. See these tips for constructive climate conversations. 

2. Work to create inclusive, vibrant communities – Through smarter land use, we can build climate-friendly neighborhoods that are safe and convenient for walking, biking, and taking transit to daily needs – school, stores, parks, and jobs – and have a mix of housing.
   • Speak up for the University Blvd Corridor Plan in Montgomery
   • Help the community-led Blue Line Corridor Coalition in Prince George’s 
   • Guide the Arlington and District of Columbia comprehensive plan updates
   • Work for a more vibrant Franconia-Springfield

3. Help provide housing for all – Building more housing in locations close to transit, jobs and services is a major win for the climate – and for economic opportunity and quality of life. This includes building different types of housing and protecting affordable housing.
   • Support a strong Alexandria Housing 2040 Master Plan
   • Help get more housing opportunities on Wisconsin Ave NW
   • This winter support good state-level housing bills in VA & MD – stay tuned

4. Fight for more sustainable transportation choices – We must invest in public transit that is frequent and reliable, make walking and biking safer and convenient, and shift dollars from widening roads. Electric vehicles are critical but not enough to lower emissions or provide safer and more affordable alternatives to driving.
   • Attend the MD Transportation & Climate Alignment Act virtual kick-off Nov. 20
   • Comment on the Visualize 2050 transportation plan by Nov. 21
   • Learn about the push for dedicated funding for Metro and other transit – and look for CSG action alerts this winter

5. Stop giveaways to polluting data centers – Household electric bills are going up to subsidize data centers owned by giant tech corporations. Some local governments, such as Prince William County, are encouraging data centers on their protected rural lands or next to neighborhoods. These giveaways remove incentives for more environmentally friendly tech facilities and provide excuses for electric utilities to backtrack on their clean energy commitments. Learn more and take action in Virginia and Maryland.

6. Slash some invasive vines – One of the biggest threats to metro area tree canopies is invasive vines. Join local volunteers to protect your community’s tree canopy – CCAN, Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance, Friends of the Mt Vernon Trail, and periodic activities by WABA. Another need is boosting tree cover in the neighborhoods that have lacked it, such as EcoAction Arlington’s Tree Canopy Equity Program. 

7. Get social – Creating community, getting out, meeting people, building civic life, and having fun IRL are other keys to healthy democratic societies – which we need for sustained climate action. Check out these local groups that build community and smart growth: Montgomery for All, Rise Prince George’s, Ward3Vision in DC, Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County, Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, or one of the member organizations in Fairfax Healthy Communities.

8. Stay up to date – find action opportunities in CSG’s monthly newsletter and email updates.

Photo credit: “Capital Bikeshare in the snow” by BeyondDC, CC BY-NC 2.0