Are you a Prince George's County Green Team member,  elected official, municipal staffer, non-profit or HOA? Do you care about your community's health and want to keep your neighborhood beautiful?

Sustainable Maryland is pleased to invite you to the Prince George's County Pet Waste Management Summit! This event, on Thursday, March 29, from 6:00-9:00pm in Largo, will offer a unique opportunity for Prince George's County elected officials, municipal staff, Green Teams, civic and homeowners association, and concerned residents to learn more about pet waste management and how they can incorporate pet waste best management practices into their overall sustainability initiatives.

Attendees will hear about the County's new Pet Waste Campaign, share best practices, and access resources to start their own local pet waste management program.

REGISTER NOW 

Questions? Contact Mike Hunninghake at [email protected] or 301-405-7956.

This past December, as the representatives of 43 nations met in Bonn, Germany for the annual Conference of the Parties (COP23), another remarkable group convened. The Under2 Coalition, comprised of sub-national representatives of cities, states, provinces, territories, and one United States county met for their second year to discuss how the global issue of climate change can be fought at the local level (the EFC is happy to announce that the one county in America who is a member is Montgomery County, MD!) The premise of the Under2 Coalition is simple: even at the most local levels, government and individuals can be part of the solution. The decision from the present administration to back out of the Paris Agreement was a setback, but it need not define how we act in the coming years. What is a country but a collection of regions? What is a city but a population of individuals? We can all make a difference. So ride your bike or carpool to work, go meatless for a day, think twice before using a chemical lawn treatment, and support candidates who understand the importance of local action. The full report from the Under2 Coalition can be found here.

New Market Green Team

SM staff met with the New Market (Frederick County) Green Team in February to get new members up to speed on the SM proggram and help them brainstorm about new projects. They are a small town (pop. 656 and growing), but mighty ambitious! Expect to hear good things from them in the coming year, including a new Community Garden, CSA drop-off, bike trails and more. Check out their webpage for more information.

The Environmental Finance Center has made its home at UMD's School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation since 2007. We are proud top be a part of their history as the School celebrates its own 50th anniversary year.

What started as a home for would-be architects has morphed over the years to include planners, preservationists, real estate developers, educators, artists, leaders and even a mayor. From its start as the School of Architecture, it grew to become UMD's School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The faculty and staff are immensely proud of the achievements of the alumni, so this anniversary is as much about their accomplishments and path as it is about ours.

Check out this video on the history of the School. And click here for more information about upcoming 50th anniversary events and celebrations.

It's not too early to start thinking about getting your community Sustainable Maryland Certified this year! How? First, if your community is not registered yet, pass the resolution to enroll in the program. If you are registered and have a Green Team, start identifying which Actions have been completed, and others from your Action Plan that can be completed in the next 6 months. Feel free to contact Mike Hunninghake at 301-405-7956 or [email protected] to schedule a phone call or visit to assess where your community stands currently, and to receive guidance and technical assistance in achieving certification or re-certification in 2018!

"Meat is a mighty contributor to climate change and other environmental problems. The amount of meat we're eating is one of the leading causes of climate change. It's as important as the kind of car you drive - whether you eat meat a lot or how much meat you eat."

--Michael Pollan, author, journalist, food activist