Local climate solutions powered by faith communities.

7th Annual Climate Crisis Forum

Join us for our annual Climate Crisis Forum on Thursday, September 22nd from 7pm - 9pm! The theme is Climate Change is a Health Emergency, featuring the former Chief Medical Officer of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Fan Tait, and a panel of health and climate experts.

Doctors are reporting severe impacts on their patients' health from the changing climate. However, there are promising solutions that provide tremendous benefits to us all. Learn more about our panelists and register today!

Get Out the Eco-Vote

FACS has teamed up with the Environmental Voter Project (EVP) and Act for Climate Today! (ACT!) to turn non-voters into consistent voters! EVP President, Nathaniel Stinnett will lead this educational training and action webinar on Wednesday, October 5th from 7 - 8:30pm.

Learn to make scripted calls to Virginians using EVP's phone technology. Empower Virginia non-voters to use their voice by sharing important, relevant information on voting options in their area. Register here.

Summer of Action Bootcamp: Build your power!

Learn how to be a more powerful climate advocate - sign up today for our final advocacy training session!

Session 3 - En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator - Mon, 8/12, 4 - 6pm

Learn to use MIT and Climate Interactive's Climate Solutions Simulator. We'll also cover the current status of federal climate policies. Register here.

Rally 4 RGGI

FACS members rallied with our partners yesterday, August 31st to defend the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) at the Department of Environmental Quality in Woodbridge. Pastor Sarah Scherschligt and Rev. Dr Jean Wright read our letter signed by 24 faith leaders to the Air Pollution Control Board.

Read here

Appalachian Resistance Comes to D.C.

FACS is partnering with Interfaith Power & Light DMV to stand in solidarity with frontline leaders and threatened communities fighting fossil fuels. Join the rally on Thursday, September 08, 2022 at 5:00 PM at the Robert A Taft Memorial Carillon, 100 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20001.

Zero Waste: Building a Better Community

FACS, EcoAction Arlington, and others are teaming up to host a webinar, Building a Circular Economy: Breaking the Produce-Consume-Dispose Paradigm. Transforming to a Zero Waste Community will hinge on rethinking how and where we produce, use, and reuse materials and goods. This program will explore how to redesign products and business practices to reduce impact on the environment, promote durability and reuse, and ultimately recycle into new products for a more resilient community. Janine Finnell, Executive Director at Leaders in Energy, will moderate this event.

Join us on Tuesday, October 11th from 7pm - 8:30pm.

Nature Corner - Did You Know...

...that Monarch butterflies are currently making their stop over in Virginia on the way to Mexico to overwinter?

Read about these pollinators and how you can protect them HERE.

Be sure to visit our online calendar to see when Hub monthly meetings happen, what FACS events are on the horizon, and what community events are being planned by other groups.

View Upcoming Events

City of Alexandria Hub Updates

September will be an impactful month for climate action in Alexandria. The new City Manager will unveil a more climate-focused city government structure, and the City will also solicit important input from residents on its draft Energy and Climate Change Action Plan. Stay tuned for details on how you can help ensure a strong climate action plan. Events in Alexandria this month:

Notice: the September hub monthly meeting date will be rescheduled from our regular time/day; look for email updates.
September 18, 10am - 2pm, Electronics Recycling Computer Donation at Fairlington Presbyterian Church (list of accepted items)
September 26 - October 2: Celebrate Native Trees Week, by Plant NoVA Natives, events throughout the week, plant sales, various garden centers, locations.

Sign up for Alexandria updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

Arlington County Hub Updates

At the August meeting of the FACS Arlington Hub, we had a wonderful discussion about our personal and faith inspirations for taking climate action. The following week we initiated our Hub Socials, opportunities to meet, informally and in person. Next month, we'll have a guest speaker: Lloyd Alter, author of “Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle: Why Individual Climate Action Matters More than Ever”, will talk about changing earth-destroying consumer culture by living a sustainable lifestyle. Our next meeting will be September 7th at 7pm.

Sign up for Arlington updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

Fairfax County Hub Updates

Fairfax FACS continued its advocacy over the summer. The transportation team met with Tom Biesiadny, transportation director, and Dwayne Pelfrey, transit chief, about the transition to a carbon-free bus fleet. Mr. Biesiadny said the department would not be prepared to apply for federal grants to partially pay for electric buses until in 2024 or later. Our view is that is too slow.

The Fairfax County Public School team met with Mount Vernon board member Karen Corbett-Sanders, the new FCPS Board Chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer and Karl Frisch of the Providence district, and Dr. Michelle Reid, the new superintendent. Discussions included the lack of an implementation plan for recommendations of the Joint Environmental Taskforce. If you’d like to be in on the fun, sign up for the Green Breakfast, on Saturday 9/10 from 9am - 10:30am (virtual). This is a great opportunity to join with the County and FCPS to act with the urgency we need.

The Fairfax Hub meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7pm-8:30pm. Sign up and Contact Kris Rosenthal for more info at kristin.rosenthal@gmail.com.

Loudoun County Hub Updates

The FACS Loudoun Hub Lead, Jean Wright, shared that there have been two LTE's published in the local newspapers, two meetings scheduled with County Supervisors - Supervisor Sylvia Glass and Supervisor Mike Turner - and a meeting with Andrew Hoyler, LCPS School Board Member. Jean has extended an invitation to Ashby Ponds residents to join a Ponds Climate Action Group for 2022-2023. She is also working with the Ashby Ponds Sustainability Committee to screen the documentary "Plastic Pollution" in October. Loudoun County BOS voted positively on an Environmental and Energy Work Plan which the Hub will be monitoring and discussing with Supervisors as it is implemented. Developing a strategic plan for Loudoun County outreach to faith communities is now on the agenda.

Sign up for Loudoun County updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

Northern Valley Hub Updates

The next meeting for the Northern Valley Climate Solutions Hub will take place on September 18th at Bethel Lutheran Church in Winchester, Virginia after the worship service at approximately 10:45am. We receive an update on our progress in pursuing a solar energy enhancement of Bethel facilities and view a video presentation of an interview with individuals regarding local climate solutions powered by faith communities and including people associated with FACS. All are welcome!

Sign up for Northern Valley updates if you are not already on our list. If you have any questions, please email info@faithforclimate.org.

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

Did you realize that the average American generates about five pounds of waste per day ? Check out online stores like Package Free Shop and Zero Waste Store to begin making small, impactful changes to sustainable alternatives. Shopping local? Bring your reusable containers to Trace (Vienna) and Mason & Greens (Alexandria)!