By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy (D) launched the county’s inaugural Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit on Nov. 20 at the Bowie State University Student Center.
The event, organized by Prince George’s County’s Department of the Environment, brought together academic professionals, businesses, community organizations and government officials to make progress on the county’s climate goals and resilience efforts. The packed event drew in a crowd of around 400, turning it into a hybrid event just days beforehand to accommodate the high interest.
Attendees participated in an array of panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities centered on clean energy, climate resilience, workforce development and sustainable growth. Braveboy and Dr. Samuel Moki, director of Prince George’s County’s Department of the Environment, headed the summit.
“We are absolutely focused on becoming carbon neutral, improving our environment and climate and contributing to the world when it comes to sustainable development,” said Braveboy. “We are committed. This is really about putting together a plan and acting on that plan.”
Prince George’s County is currently facing several climate change issues, including higher utility bills, sloping homes and stormwater management issues that incur higher costs for residents. According to Braveboy the top climate action priorities in the community are flood management and finding alternative forms of energy to help lower energy costs in the county.
“Climate change has affected families all across the county from higher electricity and other utility bills to problems with sloping of some homes in the southern part of our county,” said Braveboy. “The stormwater management issue, which has plagued our county for decades, is one of the highest single costs for Prince George’s County taxpayers.”
Looking forward to 2026, Braveboy said she believes they are getting adequate support from the state but need more for flood mitigation in particular. The county plans to ask for $30 million within the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget during the upcoming Maryland General Assembly, which begins on Jan. 14, 2026.
Prince George’s County Councilwoman Wala Blegay (D-District 6) highlighted that environmental issues are a concern for Black communities, and thus is certainly an issue that the county, which is majority African American, should take on.
“When it comes to the environment, there’s been a perception that that’s not Black folks’ issues,” said Blegay. “But when I became a council member, the first environmentalists that came to my office were Black. They were my residents and they were experts.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Black people are 34 percent more likely to live in places with the highest projected growth in child asthma diagnoses. They are also 40 percent more likely to live in places with the greatest rise in extreme temperature-related deaths.
“Looking ahead, our focus is clear,” said Moki. “We are committed to advancing the climate action plan with measurable transparent progress, expanding green infrastructure like rain gardens and permeable surfaces increasing clean energy and efficiency programs for residents.”
“We cannot meet these challenges of climate change alone,” he continued. “But together with shared responsibility and steady leadership, we can build a greener, safer and more resilient Prince George’s County.”