Jimenez forms environmental group

Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez is forming an environmental work group to find creative ways to make Mason District more environmentally friendly.

The Greener Mason Advisory Committee “will help us find hyper-local, creative ways to meet the climate goals set by Fairfax County,” Jimenez said.

“As a former executive for climate and environmental nonprofits, furthering environmental protections is a top priority for me,” he said. “I know from my professional experiences that when we’re tackling big issues like air quality, water safety, and micro-climates, we have to use a long-term, wholistic lens.”

Jimenez invites Mason District residents interested in joining the Greener Mason Advisory Committee to contact his office at [email protected] or 703-256-7717.

“I often say I can’t do this work alone; that’s why we’re encouraging folks to participate in this who don’t necessarily have a climate background, like small business owners, parents, and teachers,” Jimenez said. “We never know where the next groundbreaking idea will come from, so we’re going to find it in Mason District.”

The committee will be chaired by Ken Sandler, a Mason District resident who has a Ph.D. in environmental science and policy and has more than three decades of experience in sustainability and green buildings.

Sandler said he is assembling “a team of motivated and knowledgeable local individuals to craft concrete, actionable proposals to help make the environment of Mason District measurably cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant.”

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has set long-term climate goals that include achieving carbon neutrality by 2050; reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and 75 percent by 2040; expanding the tree canopy; promoting clean transportation; and reducing waste in landfills.

Members of the Greener Mason Advisory Committee will help identify short-term and long-term projects to recommend to Jimenez for possible implementation by the Board of Supervisors to help achieve the county’s goals.

The Greener Mason Advisory Committee will meet quarterly, beginning in May.