climate Archives - Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund

Coming Together for Environmental Justice

What were some of the key takeaways from the 11th CEEJH Symposium?

The 11th annual symposium from the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health drew over 600 participants. Among some of its themes were “resistance against systemic inequities, resilience in the face of environmental and health challenges, and the restoration of community well-being.” Community-based organizations, experts, students, and advocates gathered virtually and in-person during the second week of September to address key environmental justice challenges and explore pathways forward. Maryland LCV Education Fund was a proud partner for this event, and works with CEEJH to advance policies to address cumulative impacts and environmental justice through the Mid Atlantic Justice Coalition.

Pictured from left to right- Robin Lewis (IPL-DMV), Leah Zahniser (MDLCV Intern), Kimberly Armstrong (MDLCVEF board), and MDLCV Staff Rebecca Rehr, Marisa Olszewski, and Eliseo Magos- Gonzalez

What Were Some of the Key Takeaways?

Resilience:

The symposium demonstrated that individuals and organizations alike can be resilient in the face of funding cuts and shifts in the federal administration. Several panels highlighted the flexibility already seen from communities and organizations, covering specific strategies and providing examples of community organizing. Many speakers also reflected on the history of the environmental justice movement, emphasizing that its roots and momentum have been community-driven and never relied on—nor originated from—the federal government.

This point was underscored at the conclusion of Friday’s symposium, when the South Baltimore Community Land Trust shared several of their recent victories: among them the removal of the waste incineration from Tier 1 of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2025 and a civil rights complaint against the Department of Public Works (DPW), which is still being investigated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today.

In the case of funding cuts, attendees discussed ways to create systems of self-sufficiency. Above all, the symposium gave space for people to share their experiences so they could learn from each other and pursue economic resilience collectively.

Connection:

The symposium highlighted that the environmental justice movement depends on effective collaboration between community members, community-based organizations, experts, and states—partnerships that must be grounded in mutual learning, respect, and shared goals. Panels covered a range of topics that centered on collaboration, including how universities can engage in equitable partnerships with communities in their research, how external storytellers can respect the storytelling sovereignty of frontline communities, and how organizations are advancing EJ initiatives across the region.

The symposium reiterated that strong partnerships are the foundation of strong policy.

Speakers emphasized that long-lasting solutions have to be shaped by diverse perspectives and grounded in the lived experiences of those most affected. By coming together, bringing our unique strengths and building collective power, we amplify our impact.

Passing the Torch:

In her plenary speech, former Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer Jalonne White-Newsome asked participants to close their eyes and imagine they were holding a torch.

She asked for those that had been in the EJ movement for a long time to visualize passing that torch to younger generations. White-Newsome emphasized that passing along information and leadership roles requires trust–something that takes time to build but is a necessary part of sustaining this important movement.

Younger generations were then called to accept the torch, acknowledging the history and wisdom of those that came before them. White-Newsome emphasized how younger generations have historically been the leaders of social change— their inexperience giving them the unique ability to look at old problems from a different angle.

CEO of Black Girl Environmentalist, Wawa Gatheru, ended her plenary speech with a quote from Octavia Butler: “There’s nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns.” Wawa reflected that although the faces of the problem have changed over time, its foundation remains the same. And yet, she explained, the youth represent new suns— a rising force against injustice ready to tackle its roots. Participants walked away from the symposium with a shared commitment to an intergenerational movement—drawing strength from the past while embracing a new vision for the future.

A Path Forward?

The symposium made it clear: environmental justice means ensuring a healthy environment for everyone. It’s a simple truth that makes the solution straightforward, too— listen to communities and confront the inequities that cause environmental disparities.

As a recent college graduate, I left the symposium feeling empowered to do that. It was moving to be in the same room as some of the EJ movement’s pioneers, and inspiring to see how much had been accomplished in the past 60 years. It reminded me that I, too, could envision and create a radically different future.

Looking ahead, many spoke of passing the CHERISH Act in the next legislative session; a bill that would require the consideration of cumulative impacts in the permitting process. Instead of reviewing permits in isolation, which Maryland currently does, the CHERISH act would require Maryland to consider the combined effects of multiple polluters on community health. CHERISH would be a landmark environmental justice bill, cementing the principles of a healthy environment for all in Maryland policy.

The week following the CEEJH conference brought Maryland LCV’s annual Changemakers event, another opportunity to forge partnerships and shape future EJ policy. Together, the symposium and Changemakers underscore the momentum behind environmental justice efforts in Maryland. As the state looks toward the next legislative session, the path forward is clear—and the people behind it are committed to bold, community-informed action for a more just and sustainable future for all.

Maryland Voters Support Action on Climate and Transportation

A recent poll — conducted for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV) by Nexus Polling and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication — finds strong support for policies to improve transportation and address climate change in the state. The representative survey of 553 registered Maryland voters was conducted January 27-February 4, 2021, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%

Voters want the MTA to ensure Marylanders can get to work safely, reduce traffic congestion, reduce pollution, and increase transportation.
Nearly all (96%) Maryland voters say ensuring Marylanders, including essential workers, can get to work safely and on time is an important objective, including more than seven in 10 (72%) who say it is a very important objective. About six in 10 Maryland voters say reducing traffic congestion (61%), reducing the harmful pollution that lowers air quality and contributes to asthma and lung disease (60%), and ensuring low-income communities and communities of color have increased access to public transportation (59%) are very important objectives for MTA. Roughly half say lowering costs for Marylanders (49%) or adding new bus routes and train lines to reach rural communities (48%) are very important objectives as well.

Maryland voters support transit infrastructure spending now.
Nearly two-thirds (66%) of Maryland voters say Maryland should increase spending on transit infrastructure now to ensure Maryland residents, including essential workers, can get around the state safely, while also providing emergency relief to families, businesses, and public services. Majorities of Maryland voters also support a variety of transportation investments, including:

Investing in repairing and maintaining current transportation infrastructure (86%)
Adding new bus routes and train lines to reach communities that don’t currently have access to public transportation (83%)
Providing tax credits or rebates to individuals/households that purchase an electric vehicle (70%)
Adding bike lanes to existing roads and bridges (70%)
Investing state tax dollars in installing electric vehicle charging stations in rural, urban, suburban areas (68%)
Establishing zero-emission zones in cities (52%)

Maryland voters also support a wide array of climate policies, including:

Planting 4.5 million new trees over the next nine years to help remove carbon pollution from the air (86%)
Requiring oil and gas companies in the state to pay some of the costs related to adapting to climate change, including investments in transportation infrastructure and sea level rise (76%)
Requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a fee on their carbon pollution (74%)
Requiring new constructed buildings with at least 20,000 square feet to install rooftop solar panels (74%)
Requiring utility companies in Maryland to generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 (72%)
Replacing state-owned gas- and diesel-powered vehicles with electric or hybrid vehicles (67%)
Requiring newly constructed homes and buildings to be emissions-free (66%)

Coronavirus response, infrastructure funding and climate action are seen as top priorities for Maryland this year.
More than eight in 10 Maryland voters say passing economic stimulus legislation (83%) and public health legislation (81%) in response to the coronavirus pandemic are important priorities for the Maryland state government this year, including more than six in 10 (61% and 61%, respectively) who say they should be top priorities. Transportation infrastructure is also seen as a high priority by voters in the state: About eight in 10 also say investing more in transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges (83%) and passing an infrastructure spending bill to update and modernize Maryland’s infrastructure (78%) should be priorities. Roughly seven in 10 see addressing racism (73%) and passing a comprehensive bill to address climate change (69%) as important priorities for the state this year. And 72% of respondents said they support requiring utility companies in Maryland to generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Not only do Maryland voters support climate policies, but they want their elected representatives to support them as well.
At least seven in 10 say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate for Maryland political office who backs investing state dollars to upgrade the electric grid and expand the production of renewable energy (73%), requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a tax on their carbon pollution (71%), and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 60% from 2006 levels by 2030 (70%).

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