Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Here in Northern Virginia, we help people of faith develop local solutions to the climate crisis. We empower and unite neighbors of all faiths to achieve real climate solutions, right now.
Faithful, neighborly love for creation.
It’s time to stand together.
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local climate news, and ways to make a difference today.
Screening of Minimalism for Young
Join us for fellowship, snacks and a screening of Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things! This event is for all young adults (18 – 35ish) who are interested in creating community, make meaning, and doing justice across northern Virginia. Date: Sunday, September 22nd Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM Location: Chapel at the Unitarian Universalist… Read more »May Newsletter
Dear FACS Community: We are grateful for the recent success we’ve had in our Fairfax to Zero campaign. We are particularly proud of the work of our advocacy teams! Together we were able to get funding for the Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan. The county allocated $277,000 to fund two critical staff positions for Energy and… Read more »FACS Joins Fairfax Healthy Communities
FACS has join a coalition of transit, clean water, housing, smart growth, and climate advocacy groups representing local and regional non-profits to speak up on issues for the upcoming county and state elections. The coalition is offering a policy platform that they hope all candidates for Fairfax County Board or Virginia General Assembly offices will adopt…. Read more »Volunteer Opportunities with FACS
Volunteer Opportunities Outreach Volunteer (various location): FACS is frequently invited to have a table or booth at events, fairs and festivals in the community. Outreach Volunteers represent FACS and answer questions at these tabling events. The volunteers are provided with the informational materials to set up at the table and with answers to FAQs. Tabling… Read more »April Newsletter
Dear FACS Community: April is a month of reflection and action as we celebrate the Earth Day on April 22st. Across Northern Virginia congregations are joining together to honor and protect the earth and its people. Please join in our efforts to make a sustainable, healthy and equitable world for all. Advocacy Members touring the… Read more »Volunteer Opportunity
Volunteer with FACS & Fairfax County Government to pass out LED bulbs in exchange for CFL and incandescent bulbs. Sign up details: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d48acaa2ba7fd0-fairfax FACS’ Fairfax to Zero Campaign is an ambitious effort to promote local policies that will reduce greenhouse gases by 2% every year, reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Working together with Fairfax County we are able… Read more »Children’s Books
Looking to teach children about the environment? Below are recommended children’s books to read during a service or offer in your place of worship’s library. The Earth Book — Todd Parr Here Comes the Garbage Barge — Jonah Winter The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind — William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer The Lorax… Read more »Temple Rodef Shalom
Over the years, members of Temple Rodef Shalom cultivated an informal group that meets to discuss the connection between religion and stewardship. The group grew out of a shared desire to ponder questions that are often overlooked in services and educational classes. They wanted the time to think and learn together about creation care. When the… Read more »March Newsletter
Dear FACS Community: What an exciting month for advancing Fairfax County’s climate action agenda! On February 5th, The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed The Fairfax Green Initiatives Board Matter. This board matter recommended a comprehensive series of actions that the county should take to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, including funding of a Community Energy… Read more »Energy Justice Workshop
Please join Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions for an energy justice workshop! These workshops are offered to congregations year-round. Would you like to learn how to make your own and others’ homes more comfortable while reducing climate pollution and saving money on energy bills? Jill Barker of Arlington Energy Masters will… Read more »2018 Annual Report
To view Faith Alliance for Climate Solution’s Annual Report please click on the link below. 2018 Annual Report As we welcome 2019, we take delight in knowing the tremendous progress that has taken place across Fairfax County this past year. With your generous donations to our Fairfax to Zero Campaign, faithful acts and… Read more »VA Energy Plan
Join FACS at the Virginia Energy Plan listening session. The listening session will give Governor Northam the opportunity to hear from local residents and stakeholders. Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA) and Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions have created the VA Energy Plan Talking Points for Public Comments: Resources for Faith Testifiers for those wanting to attend! This resource… Read more »Scott Peterson, FACS Treasurer and
Get ready for more sweltering summers in Fairfax County https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/get-ready-for-more-sweltering-summers-in-fairfax-county/2018/07/20/03f45f3e-86d1-11e8-8f6c-46cb43e3f306_story.html?utm_term=.a502bedccfb9 Scott Peterson is co-founder of Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and a member of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Fairfax. Feel like the summers are hotter than they used to be? It’s not your imagination. Since 1970, the number of days above 95 degrees in… Read more »FACS Financial Information
Below you will find financial information on Faith Alliance for Climate Solution. If you have any questions please email info@faithforclimate.org. Click on the links to access the FACS 990 and the FACS GuideStar profile. Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions 990 GuideStar Below is a snapshot of the FACS 2017 Annual Report regarding FACS resources and… Read more »Going Solar
Is your congregation considering solar power? Take a look at this interactive map put together by Interfaith Power & Light! Congregations across Virginia, Maryland and DC are seeing the value and importance of solar energy. If you congregation is considering solar power please reach out for additional resources and contacts! Click on each icon to… Read more »What is Environmental Justice?
What is Environmental Justice? The birth of the modern day environmental justice movement is credited to the 1982 landfill protest in Warren County, North Carolina. The Warren County protest marked the first instance of an environmental protest by people of color that garnered widespread national attention. According to the EPA, environmental justice is… Read more »Keynote Address
FACS would like to thank Grandmother Teresa and Juanita Cabrera Lopez for the keynote address at the FACS Sustainability Awards and Showcase. Their message calls people for people of faith to take action to help those around the world! To view the keynote address click here! Their organization International Mayan League/USA is collecting relief funds for those… Read more »Press Release
FACS Press Release Please click the link for the FACS 2018 Sustainability Champion Awards Press Release. Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) represents over 70 congregations in the Northern Virginia area. FACS advocates for climate policies in Northern Virginia and in the Commonwealth. Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions P.O. Box 2012, Reston, VA 20195 … Read more »2018 Sustainability Champion Awards and
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) is proud to announce our 2018 Sustainability Champion Awards and Showcase on June 10 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. with a Showcase “Expo” featuring local organizations’ sustainability initiatives. To reserve a table, please email info@faithforclimate.org. At 3:30 p.m. we will hear from our keynote… Read more »April Newsletter
We are very pleased to introduce you to Jackie Verrecchia, FACS’ new Membership Engagement Manager. Jackie’s role is to work closely with FACS’ Community Council as well as expand FACS’ reach to faith communities across the county, particularly focusing on outreach to under-served communities. We hope to have Jackie meet as many of you as… Read more »March Newsletter
March is roaring in with another bomb cyclone for the East Coast. There are many questions to be be resolved when it comes to understanding how climate change will impact our winters, but expecting the unexpected may become the new normal. Many of us are fortunate to withstand these storms without too much disruption to… Read more »February Newsletter
I wanted to start by thanking the 40+ of you that joined us on the afternoon of January 19th for our Community Council Kickoff. The presentations and discussions were excellent, and provided us with direction for future programming throughout the year. We’ve created a folder where you may view the presentations as well as… Read more »Contact your representative now to
We have an opportunity as a faith community to reach out to our state legislators to support the many bills in the Virginia legislature during this General Assembly 2018 Session that remove barriers to customer-owned solar, including local government-owned solar. These bills will lay the foundation for VA to move towards a 100% renewable energy… Read more »FACS Presents: Dialogue on Virginia’s
You are invited to a special webinar on Tuesday, October 17 at 1:00 pm when FACS engages in a dialogue on our energy future with Republican candidate for Governor Ed Gillespie’s Policy Director, Generra Peck. Many of you attended our event with Democratic candidate Ralph Northam in August. This is your chance to hear… Read more »Support to Hurricane Harvey Relief
The devastation Hurricane Harvey left in its path throughout Texas is unimaginable. We stand in solidarity with those affected by Harvey, even as our faith communities continue to work to repair our damaged climate that exacerbates destructive storms. If you feel called to act, below are some of the faith communities and other organizations providing… Read more »Lobby. Resist. Persist. X3
60-70 people filled the Oakton Library meeting room on September 29 for Professor Vivian E. Thomson’s talk on her book “Climate of Capitulation: An Insider’s Account of State Power In a Coal Nation.” Prof. Thomson, an UVA Professor in the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Politics, a former Senior Analyst and Manager at the EPA,… Read more »Northam gets lukewarm reception from
Virginia gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam addresses the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions. ANGELA WOOLSEY/FAIRFAX COUNTY TIMES As a politician, Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam is no stranger to skeptical crowds, but as the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia, he might not have expected to get such a lukewarm reception from a… Read more »FACS’ Dialogue on Energy with
Congratulations and thank you to the nearly 200 of you that attended our “Dialogue on Virginia’s Energy Future” with Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Ralph Northam on Monday. With a packed room, Dr. Northam could not mistake the overwhelming commitment and passion for a low-carbon, clean energy future from the faith-based community and our partners. Our… Read more »FACS Presents: A Dialogue on
Join FACS and our friends from the interfaith community of Northern Virginia to hear Lt. Governor Ralph Northam’s thoughts on Virginia’s energy future. The event will be moderated by Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, an American Baptist Minister (retired) and former Executive Director of the Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society. FACS is a nonpartisan, interfaith nonprofit organization… Read more »When worry takes over
By Pastor Sarah Scherschligt, Peace Lutheran Church In mid-February, I was distressed. We were in the midst of that string of beautiful, unseasonably warm days that were, if taken at face value, simply delightful. Some people enjoyed the weather without a care. My Facebook feed was full of pictures of people in shorts, golfing or… Read more »“There’s something happening here…” April
April Update Since the election, it seems that I keep having the same conversation. Everyone is saying that something is in the air, that they are seeing folks come alive like never before. In the last few weeks, I’ve spoken with dozens of people who are starting action groups, speaking with their elected officials, and… Read more »Becoming a Climate Champion
Someone has said: “When times get tough, the tough get going.” For climate activists, environmentalists and all who care about creation in its infinite glorious expressions, these are troubling, difficult and painful days. Hearing the purported budgetary and policy amputations at the EPA and other government agencies portends ill for the future of all life…. Read more »
