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Climate Justice

Climate change is here — and every community deserves protection from its effects.

Climate change is not a distant threat. It is already reshaping life in Montgomery County — through more intense heat waves, flooding, poor air quality days, and extreme weather. But the burden isn't shared equally. Low-income communities and communities of color face the worst impacts, from living near polluting facilities to lacking green space that cools neighborhoods. Fatmata will lead with solutions that protect the environment and ensure every community benefits from a just transition to a cleaner future.

Climate Justice Means Environmental Equity

You cannot address climate change without addressing who bears the burden. In Montgomery County, predominantly Black and brown communities are more likely to live near highways, industrial facilities, and waste treatment plants — exposing them to higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems.

Fatmata will champion environmental justice policies that ensure no community is treated as a sacrifice zone — and that the benefits of clean energy and green infrastructure reach everyone, not just wealthy neighborhoods.

Invest in Clean Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure

Montgomery County has set ambitious climate goals. Fatmata will push to ensure those goals are backed by real investment — in solar energy on public buildings, electrification of the county vehicle fleet, energy efficiency upgrades for low-income households, and incentives for residents and small businesses to make the switch to clean energy.

These investments don't just cut emissions — they create jobs, lower utility bills, and make communities more resilient.

Protect Green Space and Expand Tree Canopy

Trees are one of our most powerful climate tools — cooling neighborhoods, filtering air and water, and providing habitat. Yet tree canopy coverage is dramatically unequal across the county, with lower-income communities having significantly less shade and green space.

Fatmata will fight to expand tree planting programs in underserved communities, protect existing parkland and forested areas from development, and ensure that every neighborhood has access to green space within walking distance.

Ensure Healthier Communities Through Environmental Protection

Air quality, water quality, and access to nature are public health issues. Fatmata will push the county to strengthen environmental monitoring in communities that face the greatest pollution burden, hold polluters accountable, and ensure that environmental permitting decisions account for cumulative impacts on vulnerable communities.

Why This Matters for Montgomery County

A county that leads on climate is a county that leads on public health, economic resilience, and quality of life. The clean energy economy is a job-creation engine. Green infrastructure protects property values. And environmental justice is a prerequisite for the equitable, thriving community we all want Montgomery County to be.

Fatmata believes climate justice and community justice go hand in hand. With your support, she will fight to ensure that Montgomery County's future is green, healthy, and fair — for everyone.

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