Our Work

Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions unites people of faith to develop local solutions to the climate crisis. We pursue four purposes in our work:

• sound an ethical and spiritual call to address climate change;
• encourage moral climate policies from a nonpartisan perspective;
• enable congregations to do good works that protect our planet and its people;
• empower congregations to become champions of change.

We work primarily on the local level, and occasionally on the state level, where we can have the greatest impact.

We work with people of faith. Faithful voices are valuable in the conversation on climate change, and faith-based action draws on a deep well of love for each other and the planet we share.

Our network includes Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, Society of Friends, and other traditions. Our work is done in Northern Virginia, with a primary policy focus on Fairfax County, the most populous jurisdiction in Virginia.

History of FACS 

2019

The following is a list of Fairfax to Zero initiatives that were approved in the 2020 budget of the Board of Supervisors. FACS has been working hard to advocate for these initiatives and are proud and excited to see this follow through:  

• An increase in the budget for the Environmental Improvement Program
• Funding for LED Streetlight Conversion 
• Funding for EV charging station infrastructure 
• Fairfax county’s CFO Joe Mondoro, presented his recommendation for an Office of Energy and Environment, with additional staffing, bringing the total number of staff to seven (up from 3!) 
• There will be an amendment to the Capital Improvement Plan, which will include Chantilly High School, Thomas Jefferson High School and Mason Crest Elementary as three specific sites for solar projects in 2019!
• The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors also approved the Fairfax Green Initiatives Board Matter, which lays out a comprehensive series of actions and follow up the county should take related to climate change – and refers to FACS among several of our partner local environmental partner organizations.
• The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to authorize Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy on March 19, 2019. This action will provide critical financing to supercharge the inclusion of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in eligible buildings, including houses of worship, thereby supporting the county’s goals to repurpose and revitalize underutilized buildings.

2018

• The Fairfax Board of Supervisors adopted its first ever County Operations Energy Strategy, allocating $4.5 million to begin implementing the plan.

• The Fairfax School Board committed to a feasibility report on solar for public schools, unanimously supported a resolution on climate change, and is working with the Board of Supervisors on a joint energy legislative package for Richmond.

• We sponsored events and opportunities for our network, including one focused on Zero Waste, Plastic Free Fairfax, and our first Sustainability Awards recognition program.

• We hosted the Virginia Climate Crisis Forum with Virginia’s two Senatorial candidates, putting together their views on solving climate change before the public. Over 400 people from across Northern Virginia were in attendance.