In Newton County, a group of dedicated volunteers is proving that you don't need a large staff or massive budget to create meaningful local climate action. Sustainable Newton, founded in 2018, exemplifies the power of community-driven initiatives to advance Georgia-specific climate solutions through collaboration, resourcefulness, and a focus on enabling others to take action.

Watch the video above to hear more about how Sustainable Newton is working to bring climate solutions home to Newton County. In this 30-minute Georgia Climate Digest video interview, you’ll hear from Sustainable Newton co-founder and president Maurice Carter in conversation with Eriqah Vincent of Drawdown Georgia.

Keep reading to learn more about the work Sustainable Newton is doing in the community, and how this organization is leveraging Drawdown Georgia solutions, tools, and resources to guide their locally-focused climate efforts.

Solutions-Focused from Day One

"We got together to do something," explains Maurice. "From the beginning, we were focused on solutions and on bringing those solutions into Newton County, where we live."

This volunteer-led nonprofit works with households, local governments, and businesses on practical climate solutions tailored to their community's specific needs. Their story demonstrates how relatively small local organizations can leverage partnerships, data, and community resources to create an outsized impact.

>> Read more about the founding of Sustainable Newton and their early impacts in the community.

Putting the Drawdown Georgia Framework into Action

When Sustainable Newton was founded, the group knew they wanted to focus on solutions—but which ones would be most effective for their community? The Drawdown Georgia climate solutions framework provided clarity.

"It helped us simplify for our own state and decide what to prioritize. But it also made it easier for us to explain ourselves," says Maurice. "The framework gave us something we could always point back to."

This framework has allowed Sustainable Newton to customize their approach for different audiences while maintaining a cohesive message. Whether they're helping homeowners understand energy efficiency incentives or working with businesses on reducing emissions, they can show how each action connects to the bigger picture.

Using Data to Drive Local Solutions

The Drawdown Georgia Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trackers have been particularly valuable for Sustainable Newton, providing county-specific data that helps them identify priority areas and measure progress.

"Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gases in Georgia. I think it's around 54 percent of our local emissions because we're right on I-20," Maurice explains. "It helps to say, we're not just picking this solution because everybody's doing it. We're picking this solution because it directly addresses an issue we have here."

This data-driven approach has strengthened advocacy efforts, especially when working with local policymakers and businesses. Rather than relying on general information, Sustainable Newton can show exactly how specific solutions—like electric vehicles, forest preservation, or energy efficiency—address Newton County's unique emissions profile.

Leveraging Student Research for Greater Impact

One of Sustainable Newton's most effective strategies has been partnering with university students through programs at Georgia Tech, Yale, and Oxford College. These collaborations have multiplied their impact far beyond what their team of volunteers could accomplish alone.

Through Georgia Tech's Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, graduate students analyzed the City of Covington's entire vehicle fleet, providing detailed recommendations on which vehicles should transition to electric power versus other fuel types, helping Sustainable Newton make their case to the city government. The result? New EVs in the city fleet and multiple EV chargers installed throughout the community, with more on the way.

Another student project surveyed local small- and medium-sized businesses about Drawdown Georgia solutions, identifying both the solutions they were most interested in and possible barriers to implementation. The findings revealed significant interest in composting, recycling, energy conservation, and energy-efficient vehicles, helping to guide Sustainable Newton’s outreach to area businesses.

Advancing Equity Through Climate Solutions

Sustainable Newton recognizes that effective climate solutions must benefit everyone in the community, particularly those facing economic challenges. Through partnerships with the Covington Housing Authority and organizations like Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes), they're ensuring that solutions like energy efficiency, renewable energy, and active transportation are accessible to all residents.

One successful project involved leveraging a Meta community action grant to install rooftop solar for Macintosh Trail Early Childhood Development Council, a nonprofit serving disadvantaged families. After just one year, the organization reported significant savings that they've redirected to better serve families, children, and pregnant mothers.

Maurice also believes that equity is at the heart of all of Sustainable Newton’s climate work. "We know that ultimately the most significant benefits of scaling climate solutions go to disadvantaged communities, because they're the ones least likely to have a place to go when it's 105 degrees or when we've got 20 inches of rain or a storm blows through," he explains.

Advice for Georgia Climate Advocates

For Georgians interested in starting their own local climate organization, Maurice emphasizes the importance of dialogue.

"We have a saying in our culture that talk is cheap, but meaningful dialogue is the most precious thing we have," he shares. "Katharine Hayhoe, the author and climate scientist, she'll tell people the most important thing you can do to address climate change is talk about it."

Maurice’s other key advice includes:

• Be realistic but don't underestimate your reach.

• Focus on helping people solve their problems in ways that also benefit the climate

• Think about solutions in terms of people, planet, and profit - the easiest to implement solutions support all three of these considerations.

• Build on early successes to create local examples that inspire others.

Finding Hope By Taking Action at Home

When asked what gives him hope around climate in Georgia, Maurice points to the young people Sustainable Newton works with, whose "enthusiasm, passion, intelligence, and creativity" inspire him. He also finds hope in taking action himself—recently installing spray foam insulation and a heat pump in his home, for example—and in supporting others when they feel discouraged.

"I get hope by realizing I'm not going to let somebody else go without hope," he says. "That's where I get my hope from."

The story of Sustainable Newton demonstrates that community leadership, practical solutions, and thoughtful collaboration can create meaningful progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By focusing on Georgia-specific climate solutions and leveraging available resources, even small volunteer groups can make a significant difference in their communities.

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