MoCo Kids Lead the Way: Family Environmental Scavenger Hunt Sparks Climate Action to Protect Our Communities and Environment

CCAN joined parenting author Shannon Brescher Shea to host its first post-pandemic kid-focused event in Montgomery County to help parents talk to their children about climate change and how we can build a safe, sustainable future.

ROCKVILLE, MD —  Dozens of Montgomery County families came together on Sunday, April 27, for a lively and educational Family Environmental Scavenger Hunt at Rockville Memorial Library. Parenting blogger and author Shannon Brescher Shea and Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) brought families together for a fun activity to teach children about protecting the earth and our climate. The goal: empowering the next generation to take action for a safer, more sustainable future. 

Children accompanied by their families explored their community around Rockville Town Center in search of real-world examples of climate-forward practices, such as bike-friendly streets, urban gardens, and reusable mug-friendly stores. They also identified opportunities for improvements, including places dominated by car traffic or places that could be transformed into community green spaces. 

“Depending on their age, some of our kids may not fully understand climate change, but they know when adults are worried,” said Shannon Brescher Shea, parenting author and blogger. “One of the best things we can do is show them that the people they trust the most – us – care and are taking action. Participating in activism as a family shows them that they, too, can take action and make a difference.” 

Following the scavenger hunt, participants returned to the library to reflect on their findings. Children drew pictures of something positive they observed in Rockville and something they would like to change to better protect the environment. Kids were able to write shared notes on why safeguarding the climate matters to them, outlining the steps they hope their community will take for a better future. 

“I know from my work and my own family’s experience that this kind of family education is incredibly important,” said Mustafa Abdullah, Director of Campaigns & Strategies at CCAN. “Several years ago, when the Canadian wildfires were raging and our air was filled with smog and pollutants, I had to put masks on my then two-year-old and 6-month-old to go outside. Once I put them in the stroller, I had to cover the stroller with protective plastic to then walk 15 minutes to their daycare.”

“The dramatic increase in wildfires, flooding, and other extreme weather events can be scary and overwhelming. And they are all consequences of the climate crisis. Our children will have to live with these consequences, so we need to teach them how to make our communities more resilient and adaptive to these conditions. I know anytime my child makes a mess, I ask for her to clean it up. It’s important to me that she sees me practicing that message both personally and in my activism – to see me asking that our elected officials and, more importantly, the polluters, clean up the mess they have made.” 

This event highlighted the power of family engagement in climate activism and the importance of helping children see themselves as part of the solution. CCAN looks forward to hosting future events that continue to nurture environmental stewardship and resilience in Montgomery County’s youngest residents. 

###

Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. 



Let’s Ensure Maryland’s Children Breathe Healthy Air

Op-Ed by Ruth Ann Norton and Anne Havemann, CCAN Deputy Director, initially published in The Baltimore Sun.

A healthy home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s a place where people can raise their children without fear of a life-threatening asthma attack, where one can turn on heat or cooling without triggering a budget-breaking energy bill. It’s about growing opportunity, so families can thrive, building wealth they can pass on to their children.

This healthier, more affordable future is one step closer to reality thanks to a groundbreaking executive order issued by Gov. Wes Moore that calls for the development of zero-emission electric heating equipment standards (ZEHES). ZEHES, also known as healthy air standards, would enable more households to benefit from state-of-the-art technology such as highly efficient heat pumps.

As Gov. Moore said when announcing these healthy air standards, “This is about economics. It’s about jobs. It’s about how we create more opportunities for the people of our state.” If fully implemented, healthy air standards will create a more affordable, more climate-resilient, and healthier Maryland, bringing annual energy savings of $1,000 on average for Maryland families. The clean air benefits of upgrading to zero-emission heating equipment are substantial: Upgrading Maryland households with pollution-free equipment would eliminate nearly as much smog-forming pollution as taking half the state’s diesel trucks off the road.

Funding zero-emission heating equipment standards will help Maryland build on recent achievements that boost affordability and meet state climate targets. Just last year, Gov. Moore signed legislation to strengthen EmPOWER, the state’s signature energy efficiency program which has saved customers $4 billion on their energy bills. The 2024 law helped more Marylanders upgrade to clean, efficient electric appliances, and especially assisted low-income households in taking advantage of state and federal incentives to upgrade their homes with efficient electric equipment.

These benefits are especially important for low-income and Black and brown communities in Maryland who face disproportionately high energy burdens and impacts from air pollution. Low-income households have an energy burden six times higher than Marylanders as a whole, paying on average 12% of their income on energy bills. Black Marylanders are also exposed to nearly 70% more pollution from gas equipment in homes, such as gas furnaces and water heaters, compared with their white counterparts. That translates to a greater health burden, including asthma attacks, ER visits and hospitalizations along with associated medical costs.

EmPOWER shows just how valuable investments in electric appliances can be and why fully funding ZEHES so more Maryland residents can upgrade their homes is so important. In addition to providing benefits to every single Maryland household, committing to ZEHES will also boost our state’s economy, accelerating the market for heat pumps and demand for HVAC contractors. If fully implemented, Gov. Moore’s 2024 executive order could create more than 27,000 new good-paying jobs in areas like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and construction.

Zero-emission equipment like electric water heaters and heat pumps are already the best-selling heating systems in Maryland. Last year, Moore joined eight other state leaders pledging to accelerate the adoption of highly efficient heat pumps by 2030. In order to make these technologies a reality for everyone and leave no one behind, Maryland leaders must ensure that the funding to implement healthy air standards is protected from any budget cuts.

We know that the Moore administration prioritizes cleaner air and healthier communities. Ensuring that ZEHES go into effect, with the full funding originally promised, will allow more Maryland families and residents to reap the benefits of electric appliances, such as heat pumps. They’ll see their energy bills drop. They’ll watch their kids grow up with healthy lungs. They’ll be able to stay comfortable at home even when heat waves raise temperatures into triple digits.

That’s the Maryland that all of us want to see.

Op-Ed by Ruth Ann Norton and Anne Havemann, CCAN Deputy Director, initially published in The Baltimore Sun.

Ruth Ann Norton is president and CEO of the Baltimore-based Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. Anne Havemann is deputy director and general counsel of Chesapeake Climate Action Network. 

Meet Meredith Prescott: CCAN’s New Invasive Vines Organizer

Hello! My name is Meredith (she/her) and I am thrilled to be joining the CCAN community as the Invasive Vines Program Manager.

My relationship with nature began in the wild forests and rocky coastlines of rural Maine, where I spent my childhood exploring. I moved to DC in 2015 to study Public Health at George Washington University, where I also had my first taste of service learning in local parks.

Studying public health while doing volunteer work in urban green spaces helped me see the fundamental connection between the two. I quickly learned that in DC, both parks and public health tell a story of inequality. It shocked me to learn that we can predict expected health outcomes in DC simply on geography alone. Which side of the Anacostia River you live on may literally add a decade or more to your life expectancy. And in these same areas where residents have worse health outcomes, we also see underfunded and underutilized public parks.

After graduating from GW, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. With the Student Conservation Association, I brought groups of high school students to complete conservation projects both in Rock Creek Park in NW DC and National Capital Parks-East (NACE) in SE DC. Both parks are rich in biodiversity and provide much needed sanctity from the city with their trails, picnic areas, and recreation spaces. However, the difference in management and upkeep of these two green spaces could not be more stark. In Rock Creek, you will see residents enjoying miles of well-maintained hiker/biker trails and pristinely mowed picnic areas. Meanwhile, NACE parks in SE DC often feel like a jungle of neglect, with trails made impassable by erosion and overgrowth, trash littering the ground, and entire swaths of forest overtaken by invasive species. This makes sense when you consider that Rock Creek Park receives over five times the funding per acre. (Additionally, the National Mall receives 80 times more funding for its 146 acres than NACE parks does for its 8,000 acres).

Despite the challenges and frustrations, my work in these parks has been incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about maintaining green spaces; it’s about empowering people. For many of our young people, hands-on service to the land is a much needed way to take action in what sometimes feels like a powerless fight against the climate crisis. It inspires me to see young people who may engage in this work primarily to fulfill a volunteer requirement and emerge with a sense of community, passion, and gratitude for the ability to spend time outdoors.

In my time working in DC parks, I have built trails, planted trees, installed countless erosion control structures, and even constructed a boardwalk or two. However, there has been no project that is both rewarding and low-maintenance like invasive species removal. It’s a tangible, hands-on way to make a noticeable difference in a short time and a great way to build community around outdoor work. We may not be able to fix the systemic issues that have gotten us to this point in the climate crisis, but we can all go outside and tackle those invasive vines one by one. And in the face of massive biodiversity loss at a global level, it is more necessary than ever.

I am thrilled to kick off this new chapter with CCAN, reigniting this volunteer program and working towards making every green space accessible and thriving. Every vine pulled is a step towards a greener, more equitable world. Let’s get to work!

Click HERE to learn more about CCAN’s efforts to save trees from invasive vines. If you’re interested in getting involved, email meredith@chesapeakeclimate.org

 

Funding for this project is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with Casey Trees. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Homelessness: The Next Climate Emergency?

I used to think I’d always stay housed. I’m sure many of you reading this feel that way right now. But as the world changes faster and faster, becoming less hospitable, this will increasingly become an issue not just in your backyard, but for you or someone you care about.

Continue reading

Advocates Applaud Maryland Gov. Moore’s Executive Order to Develop Healthy Air Standards for HVACs and Water Heaters This Year


Zero-emission heating equipment standards, part of Gov. Moore’s ambitious executive order on climate, can lower energy bills, deliver healthier air for residents, and accelerate progress towards Maryland’s climate goals

BALTIMORE — A coalition of health, environmental justice, and climate organizations today applauded an executive order from Gov. Wes Moore directing the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to develop zero-emission heating equipment standards this year. This announcement, which comes as a new analysis from RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) reveals that Marylanders can save an average of $740 on heating and cooling and $380 on water heating by upgrading to highly efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, will ensure Maryland residents can adopt the best, most efficient clean heating equipment.

Healthy air standards can phase in the adoption of highly efficient heat pumps, which provide affordable, reliable heating and cooling year round while reducing health-harming air pollution. In Maryland, fossil fuel heating equipment in residential and commercial buildings emits more than three times as much health-harming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions as all the state’s power plants put together, and is responsible for approximately 3,500 cases of asthma, 6,500 lost work days, and $1.3 billion in health impacts each year. Alarmingly, pollution from burning fossil fuels in homes and commercial buildings has increased in recent years, making this executive order even more essential.

Maryland is already a regional leader in heat pump adoption. Already, 54% of Maryland homes are on track to install heat pumps by 2030, and in February 2024 Gov. Moore joined eight states to pledge to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps to reach 65% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2030 and 90% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2040. Further, Maryland residents overwhelmingly support this policy. According to polling from CCAN, three-quarters of Maryland voters support healthy air standards that would phase in heat pump technology. 

QUOTES FROM ADVOCATES BELOW:

“Today’s announcement from Gov. Moore not only cements Maryland’s legacy as a climate leader, but will create more equitable access to climate and health resources, paying dividends for generations to come,” said Ruth Ann Norton, president & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “Phasing in zero-emission heating equipment standards, coupled with policies that build healthier, more affordable homes, will provide urgent relief in the form of cleaner, healthier air for low-income families and a future where all Marylanders can thrive.” 

“To meet its climate goals, Maryland must tackle fossil fuel use in buildings, which represents 13% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Anne Havemann, general counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “We’re proud to see Governor Moore take a massive step toward this goal through today’s executive order, which will gradually reduce this climate pollution from buildings and send a signal to manufacturers, retailers, and installers to prepare for an increased demand in clean technologies such as heat pumps.” 

“The impact of air pollution from burning fossil fuels in our homes is not evenly distributed across Maryland, with people of color 60% more likely to be exposed to pollution from gas heating equipment, exacerbating health conditions like asthma and heart disease for vulnerable communities,” said Jose Coronado-Flores, an organizer for CASA. “Promoting the adoption of highly-efficient electric equipment such as heat pumps through this executive order will finally help close the alarming, preventable health disparities we see from this air pollution.” 

“We applaud Governor Moore’s affirmative step to promote clean electric heat pumps that should lower bills and improve health outcomes and quality of life for Marylanders,” said Leah Louis-Prescott, building electrification policy expert at RMI. “To ensure monthly energy savings go to the residents who need it most, the Moore administration must pursue a suite of equity-focused policies to help low-income residents adopt this highly efficient technology.” 

“Marylanders are working together to reduce climate pollution from every sector, but burning fossil fuels indoors in the buildings where we live, work, learn, and pray is continuing to hurt our neighbors and damage our common home,” said Andrea Orozco, faithful advocacy lead at Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa). “We welcome zero-emission heating equipment standards as a major step towards reckoning with and addressing the harms of gas-burning in our buildings. For all that has breath, we celebrate Governor Moore’s announcement.”

“Burning fossil fuels in our buildings is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland,” said Josh Tulkin, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Director. “By developing zero-emission heating equipment standards this year, Maryland can make a measurable dent in climate pollution while delivering cleaner, healthier air for residents.” 

“Pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters increases the risk of premature death, asthma attacks, and cancer,” said Emily Scarr, State Director at Maryland PIRG. “We applaud Gov. Moore for today’s announcement and look forward to supporting strong regulations to clean up our air, lower heating bills, and protect the health of Maryland families.”

Contact:
Anne Havemann, CCAN Action Fund: anne@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-630-2146
KC Chartrand, CCAN Action Fund. kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

###

Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and beyond.