Arlington County adopted its long-awaited Climate Resolution on Saturday. It was a big deal, based on the smiles around the crowded county board hearing room. As Executive DIrector of EcoAction Arlington, Elenor Hodges, noted, “The Arlington County Climate Resolution recognizes the threat of climate change to the planet and the need to develop effective, just, and equitable policies to combat the climate crisis. This bold and reassuring step forward for climate action at the local level is more important than ever recognizing the current federal administration. The Arlington County Climate Resolution will pave the way for whole-of-government, whole-of-community actions to accelerate Arlington’s 2050 goal toward carbon neutrality, address the root causes of the crisis, and create solutions that secure a liveable future for all.“

But as several speakers noted, implementation of the resolution is key, and citizens of Arlington are on the hook to do their part. As board members said, “If you aren’t weather stripping your home or solar paneling your home, are you doing enough?”

Speakers at the board meeting were largely upbeat. Gary Usrey, of the Virginia chapter of Elders Climate Action, a national, non-partisan group concerned about a warming planet, said, “The Resolution’s ‘whole of community’ and ‘whole of government‘ approach is exactly the right strategy to ensure climate resilience mitigation and adaptation are woven into all aspects of the County’s planning and budgeting.” 

Several board members commended Jennifer Fioretti, Assistant County Manager of Climate Policy, who shepherded the resolution and put together metrics and action items. “Jenn means business and will follow through on actions.” 

Others noted the landscape has shifted over the last few months. “Federal support for climate change actions, which had been so strong, is now likely on the wane. Well, we are going to do the work no matter what. Climate change won’t stop just because the Feds don’t fund.”

Julie Rosenberg who leads the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) Arlington Hub noted the presence of Arlington students at the meeting and applauded them for forming clubs to tackle problems. Helen Hass, who has been active in the Students for Climate Action effort to bring food scraps composting in school cafeterias, said, “This year I started a climate action club at my school. At first I didn’t think it would attract much interest, especially given competing demands on our time … Instead I found that my climate members are eager to help and excited to roll up their sleeves in the hopes of creating a more sustainable future.”

J.D. Spain, the newest member of the board, said he was glad to see the Arlington Public Schools and community NGOs involved, but added, “Environmental policy, environmental justice, is like civil rights. … I think about places like Flint, Michigan and Cancer Alley down in Louisiana. … There's a trend, and I’m not saying that’s happening so much in Arlington, but in some communities where we see a lot of our under-represented folks there are those who are more greatly affected by failure to put in good policies. … There are a lot of voices not being heard here today and I know how much the impact of environment and climate justice affects them each and every day.” 

Audrey Clement raised doubts about the county’s “greenwashing.” She called into question the reduction in tree canopy over the past two decades, the county’s cutting of over 1,000 trees on public property and the Expanded Housing Option (EHO) zoning ordinance adopted in 2023 and overturned in 2024 on environmental grounds, adding, “The county is appealing the ruling that it violated state law in failing to study the environmental impacts of the EHO ordinance.”

To learn more about sustainability efforts, see: https://www.ecoactionarlington.org