Citizen voices can sway our state legislators and now is the time to stand up for climate action, protection of our air, water, and open spaces, and environmental justice. EcoAction Arlington is joining forces with Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Arlington Hub and the Potomac River Group of the Sierra Club to amplify Arlington voices during the 2022 General Assembly session that got underway on January 12. Our key priorities are:
- Protecting the gains made in the General Assembly over the last two years to put Virginia on an equitable path toward decarbonizing the electric grid and transportation through the Virginia Clean Economy Act, participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, clean car standards, and other legislation.
- Granting local jurisdictions authority to go beyond currently inadequate Virginia building codes for energy efficiency and to measure energy usage in large commercial and multifamily residential buildings in support of reducing energy costs and carbon emissions to residents.
- Securing funding for protection of natural resources, electric school buses, and electric vehicle rebates.
- Advancing legislation on protecting our tree canopy and reducing plastic pollution.
The General Assembly session is fast-paced and opportunities arise throughout for citizens to contact committee chairs and their representatives to support or oppose pending legislation. To become part of our effort to fight climate change and advance Arlington’s goal for climate neutrality during this session please fill out this survey form and we will send you action alerts with fact sheets, sample letters, and information on who to contact throughout the session.
Here are some immediate actions you can take:
- Sign up to join our Arlington delegation during the virtual Virginia Conservation Network’s annual Lobbying Day on February 1 for a chance to hear more about key legislation and meet with your delegate and senator. Learn more and register here: https://www.classy.org/event/2022-conservation-lobby-day/e383729
- Tell your state senator to oppose the nomination of Andrew Wheeler as the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. As Trump’s EPA Administrator, Wheeler rolled back decades of progress addressing toxic pollution and reducing carbon emissions. FACS Action Alert makes it easy: https://facs.salsalabs.org/opposeandrewwheelernomination/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=68c370af-bb85-4672-92b7-54dff347b132
For more information, see Advocacy at the state level and tips on effective advocacy.
This content originally appeared in the January 2022 issue of The EcoAdvocate newsletter produced by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee. For more information about the Advocacy Committee, please visit ecoactionarlington.org/get-involved/ecoaction-arlingtondvocacy/
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