Montgomery County 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:
- 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.”
