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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

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Helping Shape the Future of the National Capital Region:

COG’s Climate Change and Greater Washington 2050 Initiatives

Stuart FreudbergDirector, Dept. of Environmental Programs

June 11, 2008

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COG’s Climate Change Initiative

Created by COG Board of Directors on April 11, 2007, COG’s 50th 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

Transportation30%

Electricity41%

Fuel Use25%

Others4%

Major Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Washington Metro Region

Source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

5

CO2e Emissions Projections for the Washington, DC-MD-VA Region

-

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

2005 2010 2020 2030 2050CO

2e

Em

iss

ion

s (

mill

ion

me

tric

to

ns

)

Other

Fuel Use

Electricity

Transportation

74

100

9180

106

Taking Stock - Business As Usual Projections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 2005-2050

Source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

6

COG Climate Change Steering Committee:Proposed Regional Reduction Goals

Projected Emissions and Proposed Reduction Targets

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2005 2012 2020 2030 2040 2050

CO

2e E

mis

sio

ns

(mil

lio

n M

T)

2005 Base Year

BAU

Reduction Targets80% Below 2005

20% Below 2005

10% Below 2012

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

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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 2012.

Evaluate implementing energy efficient street lighting across the region.

Develop regional VMT reduction goals for 2012 and 2020.

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?

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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

Federal Government

Governor / State Agencies

Technical Advisory Members

Business, Civic and Advocacy Policy Officials

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

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Chair:

Hon. Sharon Bulova

Fairfax County

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Coalition Task Forces

Planning Tools

Communicationand

Outreach

Policy Principles

Compact

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For More Information…

Climate Change Initiative

http://www.mwcog.org/environment/climate/about.asp

Stuart FreudbergDirector, COG Dept. of Environmental [email protected]

Greater Washington 2050http://www.greaterwashington2050.org

Paul DesJardinDirector, Community Planning and [email protected]