We have reached a historic milestone in our journey toward environmental justice.
Governor Wes Moore signed the “Valuing Opportunity, Inclusion, and Community Equity (VOICE) executive order in July. It affirms what many of us already know: Clean air, clean water and climate resiliency should be available to everyone, regardless of income, what you look like, or your zip code.
The order sets a standard for how we, as state government, show up for our most vulnerable communities. It directs all state agencies to take meaningful, measurable action to identify and uplift overburdened communities using our groundbreaking data tool, MDEnviroScreen, to access demographic information and calculate a score for grants and studies.
At the Maryland Department of the Environment, we have made significant progress already on improving the lives of communities who live near industry and other pollution sources. We appointed our first Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice, Aneca Atkinson, and she has assembled a team to reach out to communities and ensure that their voices are heard on decisions that impact them. We’ve also invested in air monitoring, tree planting and direct technical assistance.
This work is more than a moment. It’s a movement.
I want to thank Governor Moore for his leadership, and the dedicated advocates, partners and community members who stood beside us to make this happen. Our work is shaped by their experiences, data-driven solutions, and unwavering demand for change.
I invite you to stay engaged and informed. Together, we are forging a new path for Maryland – one that is rooted in opportunity for all.
|
