Our Mission

The Howard County Office of Community Sustainability aims to protect and enhance the quality of life in our communities by addressing environmental and economic issues affecting County citizens and future generations. Guided by principles of science, ingenuity, sustainability and stewardship, the Office engages in water quality, economic development, agriculture, energy and education initiatives. 

Howard County boasts the state’s oldest Office of Sustainability and works to coordinate efforts throughout other Howard County Departments, governments through out the state and region, and community institutions.

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Sustainability Projects & Initiatives

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Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and Climate Forward Dashboard

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Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and Climate Forward Dashboard

This 2023 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan builds on Howard County’s existing efforts to reduce emissions, increase resiliency, and achieve environmental equity. This plan identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and achieve greater resilience against the increases in extreme weather that are projected to occur.

Howard County Climate Forward serves as a science-based and shovel ready workplan for every department and level of Howard County government. It also includes some recommendations for what partners and individuals can do. In addition, Climate Forward is the County's first climate plan to add a focus on climate resiliency and environmental justice. 

Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (published June 2023)

Climate Forward Dashboard: Real-time plan progress

Climate Forward Annual Report

The Annual Report offers a look at the County's work in each of eight climate change mitigation and resiliency focus areas and provides an update on climate-related governance and funding. 

HoCo Climate Forward First Annual Report (published October 2024)

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GreenFest

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Howard County's annual celebration of Earth Day and environmental stewardship. Features local vendors and non profits, a native plant sale, workshops, food, and more. 

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Live Green Howard

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Contains information on a wide variety of sustainability issues.

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Clean Water Howard

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Focuses on stormwater management. Find information about the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee.

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Environmental Sustainability Board

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Consisting of 13 members, the Board assists in the implementation of the County’s environmental agenda, providing both advice and review. Board members include experts in energy, air/water quality, environmental governance, community outreach and education, transit, green building, and environmental health.

News

Find the latest news updates.

News

Team

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Tim Lattimer
Community Sustainability Administrator
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About

For more than 30 years, Tim Lattimer has worked at the forefront of environmental and development issues at the local and global level. As a career diplomat, Tim served most of the past decade in the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Office of Global Change, where he was part of the team that concluded the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015. From 1994 to 2012, he focused on environmental and economic development issues in a variety of overseas postings and multiple assignments in DOS’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science. Prior to joining the DOS in 1994, Tim worked as an environmental planner and project manager in Southern California for 10 years, where he managed environmental impact assessments with private sector planning and engineering firms and with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Tim holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.S. in Environmental Studies, both from California State University, Fullerton.

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Lindsay DeMarzo
Stormwater Programs Manager
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Leah Miller
Sustainability Projects Supervisor (Energy and Climate)
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Julie Costantino
Sustainability Projects Manager (Stormwater)
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Avery Farrell
Sustainability Projects Manager (Grants)
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Bill Mahoney
Sustainability Projects Manager (Howard EcoWorks/READY and Green Infrastructure Network)
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Elissa Reineck
Sustainability Projects Manager (Outreach)
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Abbi Pettinati
Sustainability Projects Manager (Energy and Climate)

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