Climate Parents of Prince George’s County
We joined numerous groups, including Progressive Maryland and PG Change Makers, at the August 29, 2024, Prince George’s County Board of Education in the call to install solar on existing school buildings, in particular in overburdened and underserved communities such as Fort Washington and Oxon Hill. We also called for strong leadership on climate-friendly, healthy school foods and thanked the Board for all of the progress that has been made on the Climate Change Action Plan Implementation.
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On May 9, we testified at the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC), calling on the IAC to fully implement the requirement found in HB 458 to develop standards for LEAs to use when conducting life-cycle cost analysis for new school construction. In particular, we called on the new guidelines to include consideration of Maryland’s 2045 net zero climate goal, the cost to retrofit schools for EVs and fossil fuel-free heating, and the need to consider IRA tax credits.
You can watch the testimony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEMaSfDNtDk
And you can read our written testimony here.
We submitted testimony to the Prince George’s County Council in support of CR-009-2024, a “Resolution Concerning School Pedestrian Safety Workgroup.” Our children are counting on the County Council to address safe access to schools, and we do believe that this workgroup will lead the Prince George’s County government to prioritize safer access to schools in
its road design and other transportation concerns.
You can read the testimony here.
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The Maryland General Assembly is underway and we have been continuing our work providing support for laws that will lead to greenhouse-gas-free schools. We do this as part of the Maryland Climate Justice Wing. Here is the second set of testimony that we submitted in the 2024 legislative session.
You can see the testimony we submitted earlier in the session here.
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The Maryland General Assembly is underway and we have been continuing our work providing support for laws that will lead to greenhouse gas free schools. We do this as part of the Maryland Climate Justice Wing. Here is the first set of the testimony that we are submitting in the 2024 legislative session.
If you would like to help us review more bills let please consider volunteering.
On January 25 testimony was given on the FY25 Budget Hearing by two Climate Parents volunteers. Nate from Eleanor Roosevelt High School spoke on the importance of PGCPS providing funding for solar installations on his school and others throughout the county and Joseph spoke on the need for funding for solar, crossing guards, and composting programs, as well as the need to take advantage of all of the federal and state grant programs that are available to schools. You can check out the video to hear the testimony from us and other concerned residents.
There is also one more PGCPS FY25 Budget Hearing on February 15. You should register to speak up for funding of school climate action.
We testified in favor of two bills at the the December 4 Prince George’s House Delegation Meeting
The first bill was PG 301-24, which would authorize stop sign cameras, which is important for the safety of young students that walk or bike to school. Read the testimony.
We also spoke in favor 501-24 that would study the feasibility of relocating the Board of Education headquarters. This would align with one of the commendaitons found in the Climate Change Action Plan. Read the testimony testimony.