The Montgomery County Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (MC-FACS) monthly meeting is Sept 17 from 730 to 9pm at River Road UUC, 6301 River Road Bethesda 20817.  We are going to be discussing getting out the vote for climate friendly candidates for the Nov 6 election, and having our congregations pledge to reduce green house gases 80% in line with the MC resolution.

PLEASE JOIN US TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

We started MC-FACS in Sept 2017 to bring together congregations in Montgomery County that are interested in fighting global warming at a local level.  Our aim is to be a moral voice urging the Montgomery County Council and Executive to pass laws limiting carbon emissions from Montgomery County. We are working with Interfaith Power and Light, Sierra Club, and 350.org.

History.  In 2017, Sierra Club MC, and 350moco.org lobbied the MC Council to pass the International Green Construction Code, to reduce carbon emissions from commercial buildings by 10%.  River Road UUC, Cedar Lane UUC, and Beth Chai all helped in this effort, but we were not able to make contact with other green churches in MC.  IPL does not work on County legislation, and other MC faith organizations do not address climate issues.  The construction industry was well organized, with 10-20 developers working together against the legislation, and it finally passed in sept 2017 in a weakened version.

Fairfax County VA has the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) which is a coalition of over 50 faith groups lobbying county government on climate issues.  We will use them as a model, and try to bring churches to support climate legislation in MC.  Since Maryland gives counties control over building codes and much transportation, we don’t have to wait for state or national changes before we move against carbon pollution here.

As of Sept 2018 members from over 30 congregations have attended our monthly meetings

Current issues with which we are involved include

1. Closing the Dickerson Incinerator
2. Divesting fossil fuel stocks from the County pension funds
3. Asking for a County Climate Office to oversee carbon emissions
4. Lobbying for the Maryland Forest Conservation Act
5. Researching clean electricity options
6. Getting out the vote for environmental candidates

For more info email me: walter.weiss@verizon.net

Walter Weiss

Co-Chair Environmental Task Force

River Road UUC

walter.weiss@verizon.net