FACS October 2024 Newsletter

Local climate solutions powered by faith communities.

Next Week—Climate Crisis Forum: Green Schools for Sustainable Communities!

This year’s Climate Crisis Forum is all about how our local schools are stepping up to tackle the climate crisis and make a difference in our communities. It's happening on Monday, October 7, 6:00-8:30 PM, at Meridian High School in Falls Church, VA.

This event features two dynamic panel discussions:

Northern Virginia Superintendents: How their districts are leading efforts in sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate education and how the community can support further action.
Student Climate Activists: Young leaders voicing why climate action matters to them and how their school districts can help them reach their goals.

You’ll have the chance to explore exhibits and tables from local organizations actively working on sustainability in Northern Virginia—great for students and advocates looking to get involved and connect with others doing great work! Plus, we’re collecting clothes for a student clothing swap to be held on a future date.

Grab a Free Ticket!

Staff Highlight: Caroline Chambers

FACS is excited to welcome Caroline as our new Community Engagement Associate. In previous roles, Caroline worked in environmental conservation and sustainability. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Christopher Newport University in December 2023, during which she studied Environmental Ethics abroad in Reykjavik, Iceland and toured in Argentina as an oboist with the University Wind Ensemble. She is currently working to attain her Master Hiker certification from Virginia State Parks. Caroline is passionate about fostering an appreciation for nature and promoting sustainable practices through her work and community engagement.

Get Your House of Worship a Bird Sanctuary with a Free Site Visit!

The first 20 Fairfax County faith communities that request a FREE site visit will receive a mini bird sanctuary. Dedicated volunteers from Plant NoVA Natives and Audubon at Home will help you evaluate your current practices, preserve trees and habitat, eliminate invasive plants, and reduce unnecessary lawn.

Show Me This Amazing Opportunity!

Nature Corner – …and the Leaves Have Fallen

As the vibrant colors of fall arrive, the task of managing fallen leaves looms large for many of us. But before raking them all away, consider how these leaves offer crucial shelter for wildlife and enrich the soil in our yards. Instead of bagging them, try alternatives like using them as mulch, adding them to compost, or letting them decompose naturally to benefit your garden

Faith in Action – Where Is Your Life Boat, and Who’s in It?

As climate disasters rage and lives hang in the balance, where are we? At FACS, we believe that faith communities have a vital role in ensuring everyone makes it—by turning our convictions into bold actions to combat the climate crisis.

Forests: We joined St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church as they celebrated their induction into the Old-Growth Forest Network as the first Old Growth Community Forest in Fairfax County.

Data Centers: Dominion Energy is proposing a new 500/230 kV electric transmission line and two substations in Ashburn and is now receiving pressure from community members to put the high voltage line project underground.

Water: The Town of Woodstock is searching for secondary water sources due to droughts the last two summers and harmful algal blooms on the Shenandoah River.

Land Use: A fifth-generation farmer is challenging Caroline County's use of eminent domain to seize 11 acres of their land for a proposed water facility, claiming it violates state law.

Economics: A 1°C rise in global temperatures could shrink the world economy by 12%. According to a new study, decarbonization easily passed the cost-benefit analysis for large economies like the U.S. and European Union.

Hub Updates

Fill out this form to get involved with an Advocacy Hub. You'll receive meeting details for county-specific events, advocacy opportunities, action alerts, community wins, and more! A Hub Leader will reach out to you shortly.

City of Alexandria Hub Updates

FACS Alexandria Hub continues to gather questionnaire responses from ACPS School Board candidates. With a due date of October 1st, the questionnaire is designed to determine their level of commitment to sustainable, pro-climate policies. This is part of the Hub's advocacy to expand ACPS' climate actions, both in its facilities and in how ACPS teaches its students about climate issues. Their goal is to build a broader coalition for climate action in all City of Alexandria schools, including recent outreach efforts to faith-based schools in the city.

Important Notice: There will be no October meeting due to the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Instead, Ryan Freed, Director of Alexandria’s Office of Climate Action, will join us on November 6th. To receive more details about this important hybrid gathering, fill out this form and select the City of Alexandria for the county. They encourage everyone to attend the Climate Crisis Forum on October 7th!

Arlington County Hub Updates

In September, FACS Arlington Hub discussed the season's theme of Hope and Action, what it means to us personally and in our faith traditions. They discussed Restore NOVA Forests, a new regional initiative launched by EcoAction Arlington, and advocacy for increased tree canopy. Additionally, they shared exciting news about a FACS Hub pilot in an Arlington neighborhood where an advocate is working with community leaders to bring trees, specifically orchards, to a local elementary school.

Important Notice: Their next meeting will be on October 9th at 7 PM. Generally, they meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month, except if there is a faith-based schedule conflict.

Fairfax County Hub Updates

Did you know that the ash from the Reworld Fairfax, Inc. (formerly Covanta) incinerator will fill up Fairfax County’s landfill by 2040? Or, that the Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) aims for 90% reduction in all of the county’s waste, also by 2040? Currently, each individual is producing about five pounds of waste a day, well over a million tons a year.

The county has a provisional plan to redirect 90% of this waste and will massively over-haul how solid waste is handled. To implement these zero-waste changes, Fairfax County needs residents’ engagement, legislation in Richmond, and significant investment. The benefits of changing the system to zero-waste include cleaner air from fewer trash trucks and emissions from the incinerator, no need for extensive landfills, compost from organics to grow gardens, and becoming known as a county that made it happen.

The resident survey ended on September 30th, but check out this video to see the zero-waste strategies being discussed for 2025.

Loudoun Hub Updates

FACS Loudoun Hub wrote letters to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) asking that a 3-mile section of Dominion Energy’s 9.4 mile long proposed Aspen-Golden transmission line be undergrounded in Lansdowne, VA. Hub Leader Rev. Dr. Jean Wright attended the SCC public hearing at Belmont Ridge Middle School. Additionally, Ann Bennett, Sierra Club Data Center Issues Chair, along with Jean, presented on data centers at Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, VA.

Several members attended the ribbon cutting for the Purple Box Glass Recycling bins in Ashburn, VA. The Hub collected over 500 signatures in support of the recycling bin and its siting at One Loudoun Park and Ride.

Central Valley Hub Updates

At the request of Harrisonburg's Mayor Deanna Reed, 11 leaders of eight local environmental groups, including four members of Shenandoah Valley Faith and Climate's Steering Committee, met with her for discussion. The Mayor wanted their insights on what actionable items she could effectively address and accomplish within a reasonable timeframe. By the end of the meeting, they identified four possible action items in the areas of Housing & Zoning, Transportation, Energy, and Conservation & Resilience. The Mayor asked for follow-up meetings focusing on defining and planning specific actions.

Join a Local Advocacy Hub!

Stay connected with local news, meeting reminders, advocacy opportunities and action alerts, community wins, and more!

FACS' Monthly Sustainability Tip

Glass bottles and jars are not acceptable in most curbside recycling programs throughout the region. If you’d like to recycle your glassware, take it to one of the Purple Glass-Only Recycling Containers located throughout the region (Example: Fairfax). If there is no purple box near you, then all glass should be placed in the trash.

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