Helping Shape the Future of the National Capital Region: COG’s Climate Change and Greater Washington 2050 Initiatives Stuart Freudberg Director, Dept. of Environmental Programs June 11, 2008

2 COG’s Climate Change Initiative  Created by COG Board of Directors on April 11, 2007, COG’s 50 th Anniversary  Establishes Interdisciplinary COG Climate Change Steering Committee INITIATIVE ELEMENTS  Best Practices guide  Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and forecast  Regional reduction goals  Climate Impacts/Adaptation  Advocacy  Recommendations

3 Best Practices Guide HIGHLIGHTS:  Over 2/3 of local governments in the region purchase renewable energy  Over 1⁄2 of the jurisdictions have adopted energy efficiency measures  Nearly 90% of the communities in the region have embarked on transit oriented development and over 80% have “walkable community” initiatives  About 70% of communities have green space protection and green infrastructure programs  All communities in the region have recycling programs.

4 Major Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Washington Metro Region Source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

5 Taking Stock - Business As Usual Projections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

6 COG Climate Change Steering Committee: Proposed Regional Reduction Goals BAU = Business As Usual NOTE – GOALS ARE PROPOSED AND HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED BY THE COG BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

7 Climate Impacts  Altered Weather – intensification of: Droughts Storms – both wind and rain Hot weather extremes  Other potential changes include: Increases in invasive species Increases in infectious diseases Impacts on forests and urban trees Impacts on wetlands Potential Impacts:  Water Supply  Public Safety/Infrastructure Flood & Wind Damage:  Buildings, Roads, Bridges, Pipelines… Emergency Services  Public Health  Environmental Health/Water Quality  Energy Demand

8 COG Advocacy Positions  Federal Energy Legislation: Promoted strengthening CAFÉ standards Supported “green collar” job programs Supported Energy efficiency block grants to local governments  Federal Climate Legislation: Promoted the role of local governments/regional entities  Endorsed Cool Capital Challenge  Sent letter of concern re proposed coal-fired power plant in Wise, VA

9 COG Climate Initiative: Recommendation Highlights (DRAFT)  Support 20% Renewable Portfolio Standard  Identify best practices to support reducing overall local government energy use by 15% by  Evaluate implementing energy efficient street lighting across the region.  Develop regional VMT reduction goals for 2012 and  Establish goal and develop program and plan to achieve a “no net loss” in the region’s tree canopy.  Evaluate setting regional green power utilization goals for local governments/explore regional cooperative purchase.  Establish regional green fleet policy with measurable goals and timetables.  Identify the percentage of auto trips under 3, 2, 1, ½ mile and develop strategy to shift half of these trips to bike or pedestrian modes.  Promote local food production options, local vendors and suppliers. NOTE – GOALS ARE PROPOSED AND HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED BY THE COG BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

10 Greater Washington 2050 What would you want the Washington region to look like in 50 years?

11 Greater Washington 2050 – Initiative Summary  Establish a Greater Washington 2050 Coalition with broad public, business and civic participation to:  Develop a Greater Washington 2050 Compact  Compact elements would cover: land use economic growth environmental quality transportation affordable housing population and demographics health climate and energy  Greater Washington 2050 Coalition Tasks: Review and synthesize existing goals, plans and “visions” Develop policy principles Survey public attitudes about growth and quality of life issues in the Washington region Evaluate regional growth scenarios using quantitative and qualitative metrics or performance measures Develop Compact Devise metrics to assess progress in achieving the goals of the Compact. 18 month effort, complete by June, 2009

Greater Washington 2050 Coalition Planning Directors Technical Advisory Committee TPB Technical Committee MWAQC Technical Advisory Committee Water Resources Technical Committee Metropolitan Development Policy Committee Transportation Planning Board Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee Ches. Bay & Water Resources Policy Committee Human Services Policy Committee Climate Change Steering Committee District of Columbia State of Maryland Governor General Assembly Commonwealth of Virginia Governor General Assembly National Capital Planning Commission Business Civic Environmental 12 Chair: Hon. Sharon Bulova Fairfax County

13 Coalition Task Forces Planning Tools Communication and Outreach Policy Principles Compact

14 For More Information… Climate Change Initiative Stuart Freudberg Director, COG Dept. of Environmental Programs Greater Washington Paul DesJardin Director, Community Planning and Services