State Representative Chris Rabb wants you to start the sustainability journey where you are.

In our latest Civic Catalysts column, Rep Rabb talks nerding out about cool science, vertical farming & holding greenwashers accountable.

Role: State Representative for the 200th Legislative District of Pennsylvania. Rabb represents 68,000 constituents in four Philadelphia neighborhoods –Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, West Oak Lane, and Blue Bell Hill – at the State House of Representatives. 

Green superpower: The ability to see many different ways to be a part of the solution. 

How Rabb wields his superpower: At the personal level: Reducing individual carbon footprint, while encouraging others to do things within their means. “Not everyone can afford an electric vehicle or solar roof, but we can all start where we are.” At the systemic level: Holding corporations accountable. “Corporations and the institutions that they influence…have inordinate carbon footprints and problematic behaviors that have put us in this situation to begin with.

What Rep. Rabb is looking forward to in the next six months: Reintroducing House Bill 2525, which attempts to tackle corporate greenwashing in Pennsylvania. The bill will allow people to civilly sue companies “caught in a lie” and pressure others to cease unethical marketing strategies around sustainability. It was too late during this term to bring the bill to the House floor, so he plans on restarting the process this upcoming January. 

What he finds fun about sustainability work: Cool science, technology, and innovation! As a former organizational innovation professor at Temple University, Rep. Rabb likes learning about “all of the cool things that allow us to do things better, more efficiently, and in a green and inclusive way.” 

What he “nerds out” on: Vertical farming. Geothermal. Agrivoltaics (What’s this?!). Basically, “any opportunity to look at kind-of cool combinations of things – whether they’re structures or processes or technologies or people from different backgrounds – to do things in a more sustainable fashion; that’s really, really interesting.”

Challenges to overcome in the field: Environmental sustainability as a politicized issue. To reach across the aisle, Rabb focuses on how environmental projects can create jobs and increase affordability. 

Advice for getting involved locally: “Start close to home.” For instance, try to get refillable water stations at your school. If you want to advocate for bills that you like, call your representative’s office and say, ‘How can I help?’ “The power of the average person is considerable. It’s hard to be ignored when you are a part of a large, well-organized group.” 

How to get in contact: Follow Representative Rabb on Facebook and Instagram. Track the bills he sponsors here. Email his office at reprabb@pahouse.net. And call his office at 215-242-7300. 

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Cover image: Representative Chris Rabb at 2023 PA Farm Show. Credit: Commonwealth Media Services