Montgomery County Launches Climate Smart Campaign with the Slogan ‘BIG CHANGE Starts Small’
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Montgomery County today launched its new Climate Smart Campaign, designed to inspire and inform residents about making climate-smart choices in their daily lives. The campaign encourages individuals to take a “pledge” to be Climate Smart, with the slogan “BIG CHANGE starts small” serving as a reminder that small actions can lead to significant impact.
“In Montgomery County, we’ve set ambitious goals to tackle climate change, but we know we can’t achieve them alone,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The Climate Smart Campaign is about empowering every resident to be part of the solution. ‘BIG CHANGE starts small’ isn’t just a slogan; it’s a reminder that collective action starts with individual choices. Together, we can make Montgomery County a leader in sustainability and create a healthier, more resilient future for everyone.”
The Climate Smart Campaign spotlights everyday behaviors residents can take in five key areas to reduce their carbon footprint:
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- Food : Plan meals before shopping, compost food scraps and buy seasonal produce from local farms and farmers markets.
- Emergency Preparedness : Sign up to receive emergency alerts from Alert Montgomery , make an emergency plan, assess your flood risk and take steps to protect your home and belongings.
- Transportation : Use public transportation, download the Ride On app , walk or bike more often and join the Electric Vehicle Purchasing Co-Op.
- Energy : Schedule a free Quick Home Energy Checkup, switch to LED lightbulbs and monitor your thermostat.
- Plants : Plant a tree; trees remove carbon from the air, cool the planet, provide habitat and beautify our neighborhoods.
“Whether it’s choosing public transit or planting native trees, each small action can help us reach our goal of reducing carbon pollution and making Montgomery County a model for other jurisdictions,” said Montgomery County Climate Change Officer Sarah Kogel-Smucker. “That is why we chose ‘BIG CHANGE starts small’ as our campaign slogan.”
A key feature of the Climate Smart Campaign is the pledge, which allows residents to commit to being Climate Smart. By scanning a QR code displayed on local media, social media, smartphones and Ride On buses, residents can pledge to adopt climate-friendly behaviors and learn more about reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“The Climate Smart Campaign engages and empowers residents where they are, whether they are riding the bus, scrolling through social media or reading the local news,” said Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Director Jon Monger. “Our goal is to make it easy for each member of our community to take small, meaningful steps that add up to big changes for our climate.”
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To amplify the Climate Smart Campaign, the County will share messages through local media outlets, social media platforms and on Ride On buses, encouraging residents to take the pledge and take action for a more sustainable future.
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“We know that 42 percent of the County’s GHG emissions come from the transportation sector,” said Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “Simple everyday choices—like taking public transit—can make a significant difference in a County as large as ours.”
The Climate Smart Campaign aligns with and supports the broader goals of the Montgomery County Climate Action Plan , which was completed and finalized in June 2021. The plan calls for reducing GHG emissions by challenging the County to cut GHG emissions by 80 percent in 2027 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2035.
For more information on the Climate Smart Campaign and to take the pledge, visit the Montgomery County Climate Action Portal or scan the QR code available in campaign materials.
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Release ID: 25-044
Media Contact: Nordea Lewis 240-962-0315
Categories: Environment
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46483