Climate Change
Learn
Decades of scientific observation and analysis indicate we likely face a changing climate. Global temperatures have risen by roughly 1.5 degrees F over the past 100 years, and are predicted to increase by significantly more over the next 100. The world's leading scientists, including the UN-established Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), believe these changes are largely due to the increase of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted from human activities, most notably from the burning of fossil fuels and land clearing. The global level of CO2, the most prevalent GHG in the atmosphere, has nearly doubled since 1970. (For more info on the science, visit websites of the EPA or NOAA, or view a PDF from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Global Temperature and C02
Source: US Global Change Research Program
A changing climate could mean different things for different regions: higher sea levels, varied precipitation or growing seasons, earlier snowmelt, altered river flows, a change in pests or disease, increased water scarcity, higher urban temperatures, or other changes. These can affect a region's energy supply, development patterns, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, and health.
The ecological and meteorological impacts of climate change won't follow lines drawn on a map. Rather, American cities and towns will face many climate impacts together on a regional scale; many are already experiencing such changes now. They'll require innovative regional solutions that include a broad array of constituents and stakeholders.
Regional councils—as conveners, planners, consensus builders and policy makers—are playing an important role in advancing cost-effective solutions on a broad scale. Officials are assessing their region's climate vulnerabilities to identify the areas with the greatest need for action. They are mitigating their region's contribution to climate change and engaging stakeholders to pursue emissions reductions at the source. And they're developing strategies to help constituents adapt to the changes that cannot be avoided, to minimize future costs.
Explore
Assessment
Assessing climate risks means determining likely changes and understanding their impacts.
The US Global Climate Research Program, composed of several federal agencies including NOAA, released a major report on national and regional climate impacts.
For examples of regional-scale assessments, see a selection from the Great Lakes, the Central Great Plains, the Mid-Atlantic (PDF), the Gulf of Mexico, and New England.
Mitigation
Mitigation means identifying and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to improve sustainability and reduce health risks and climate impacts. Reducing GHGs could have several benefits for a region (e.g. energy efficiency and security, economic development, reduced air pollution).
Visit the US EPA's national GHGs emissions inventory.
View the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' regional emissions inventory information (PDF).
Visit ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection for examples of GHG inventories and mitigation in action.
Explore the Conference of Mayors' Climate Resource Center.
The IPCC published a comprehensive report on climate change mitigation in 2007.
The EPA has information for mitigating a problem known as "urban heat islands."
And don't forget to visit the Green Regions pages on Energy, Green Infrastructure, and Green Operations for more info.
Adaptation
Adaptation means developing plans and implementing policies that counter climate impacts: sizing infrastructure differently, changing land-use patterns, developing emergency response plans or other policies.
See the Center for Clean Air Policy's report on local best practices and Urban Leaders Adaptation Initiative, which includes publications: "The Value of Green Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation" and "Lessons Learned on Local Climate Adaptation."
EPA's State and Local Climate and Energy Program - click here for their webinar series on Climate Change Adaptation.
See NARC’s Building Community Resiliency project, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to investigate the needs of local and regional land use planners and decision-makers to prepare and plan for climate change.
See ICLEI's ADAPT toolkit and background on adaptation.
See the Center for Clean Air Policy's report on local best practices.
The Coastal States Organization explores coastal zone management and adaptation (PDF).
The IPCC released an extensive study of adaptation options in 2007.
The WeAdapt website provides a significant and growing source of information on adaptation strategies and methods.
The U.S. EPA also offers background on climate change adaptation.
See the President’s Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate Change Adaptation Task Force.
For examples of climate strategies, see those by California, the cities of Seattle and Chicago, or Montgomery County, MD. The page includes many other examples as well.
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Project Locations: Sacramento | Philadelphia | Washington, DC
Project Title:
Sacramento Area Council of Governments Climate Change Strategy
Project Type:
Climate Change Plan
Project Location:
Sacramento, CA
Contact:
Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Detailed Project Information:
With the 2006 passage of landmark state legislation mandating GHG reduction in California, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) has embarked on a series of projects and initiatives to deal with climate change. SACOG continues to play a critical advisory role working with the State on implementation. Key tasks include monitoring emissions from the region and government operations, establish an emissions baseline, and implementing the mitigation measures from their Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2035. Within three years of passage of this plan, the organization will establish a Regional Climate Change Action Plan that will create an inventory, assess potential impacts, and develop enforceable measures. SACOG will also work with partners to produce a toolkit for local governments to take effective mitigation actions over time, as well as a public information program. The toolkit will include best practices for assessment of VMT and GHGs, for promotion of land use that is economically viable and environmentally sustainable, and identification of environmental services.
Project Title:
DVRPC GHG Emissions Inventory and Initiatives
Project Type:
Climate Change Plan
Project Location:
Philadelphia Region
Contact:
Rob Graff, Manager
Office of Economic Analysis and Coordination
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Detailed Project Information:
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's (DVRPC) Climate Change Initiatives program area leads, supports, and coordinates efforts in the region to reduce GHG emissions and prepare for climate change. The program includes a regional GHG inventory and forecast that serves as a pilot for EPA on developing a prototype for regional inventories. DVRPC is actively evaluating GHG reduction options based on cost, effectiveness, feasibility, and other implications; the commission is also involving and educating an array of stakeholders and member governments. Finally, DVRPC is integrating climate change and energy concerns throughout DVRPC activities, including transportation investments and brownfield development. For more information, visit DVRPC's climate website.
Project Title:
MWCOG's Climate Change Initiative
Project Type:
Climate Change Plan
Project Location:
Metropolitan Washington DC
Contact:
Stuart Freudberg,
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Detailed Project Information:
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' (MWCOG) Climate Change Program was one of the nation's first initiatives to address GHG emissions on a regional scale over an entire metropolitan area. The MWCOG board established a steering committee to develop a strategy reflecting input from an array of existing policy entities. The strategy included several activities. With partners, MWCOG conducted a survey and prepared a report cataloguing climate change, energy conservation, and sustainable development best practices among members and affiliates. Later, in 2008, the MWCOG released a comprehensive report with significant regional GHG reduction targets. In 2009, the steering committee is developing a detailed workplan and first-year strategy goals to be met by late 2010. The council also comments on state and federal climate-related policy. For more information, visit the MWCOG website.
Act
Getting Started
The NARC Climate Worksheet can be a useful tool for MPOs and COGs in the initial planning stages.
For regional climate impact data, NOAA maintains Regional Climate Change Centers and the Climate Program Office.
Planning
ICLEI provides a climate toolkit for small communities.
EPA offers several tools to help communities and regions assess, plan and adapt.
EPA is drafting a new guidebook for regions on compiling a GHG inventory, and is seeking pilot regions to test it. Contact Andrea Denny for more information.
ICLEI partnered with the US Green Building Council to develop an index measuring community sustainability.
Smart Growth America and the Urban Land Institute research the effects of land-use planning on greenhouse gas emissions.
Funding
Apply for the US EPA's Climate Showcase Communities Grant.
See the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency Block Grant program.
Clean Air Excellence Awards Program
US Environmental Protection Agency
For more information, visit EPA's website by clicking here.
EPA is now requesting applications for the 10th Annual Clean Air Excellence Awards.
The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program, established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, annually recognizes and honors outstanding innovative efforts to help make progress in achieving cleaner air. Award-winning entries must directly or indirectly reduce pollutant emissions, demonstrate innovation, offer sustainable outcomes, and provide a model for others to follow.
If you have any questions about the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program, please contact Pat Childers of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation at (202) 564-1082, or childers.pat@epa.gov.
There are five categories in which a program, project, or technology may be entered:
- Clean Air Technology
- Community Action
- Education/Outreach
- Regulatory/Policy Innovations
- Transportation Efficiency Innovations
In addition to the five award categories described above, the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program will annually recognize two special award categories.
The Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award. This category recognizes up to one individual for outstanding achievement, demonstrated leadership, and a lasting commitment to promoting clean air and helping to achieve better air quality. The candidate should be an innovative leader in his or her field and demonstrate a lifetime of achievement in promoting clean air. Candidates for this award must be nominated by a third party.
Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award. This category recognizes an outstanding project or program that has achieved environmental excellence in more than one of the five general award categories (i.e., Clean Air Technology, Community Action, Education/Outreach, Regulatory/Policy Innovations, and Transportation Efficiency Innovations).
New Report Provides Authoritative Assessment of National,
Regional Impacts of Global Climate Change
June 17, 2009
US Global Climate Research Program
Climate change is already having visible impacts in the United States, and the choices we make now will determine the severity of its impacts in the future, according to a new and authoritative federal study on the domestic impacts of climate change. It is the first such report in almost a decade to break out those impacts by U.S. region and economic sector, providing practical value to policy makers and planners.
The report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, compiles years of scientific research and takes into account new data not available during the preparation of previous large-scale assessments. It was produced by a consortium of experts from 13 federal science agencies spanning Democratic and Republican administrations, and from several major universities and research institutes.
"This new report integrates the most up-to-date scientific findings into a comprehensive picture of the ongoing as well as expected future impacts of heat-trapping pollution on the climate experienced by Americans, region by region and sector by sector," said John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The study finds that Americans are already being affected by climate change through extreme weather, drought and wildfire trends and details how the nation's transportation, agriculture, health, water and energy sectors will be affected in the future. The study also finds that the current trend in the emission of greenhouse gas pollution is significantly above the worst-case scenario that this and other reports have considered.
A product of the interagency U.S. Global Change Research Program, the definitive 190-page report, produced under NOAA's leadership, is written in plain language to better inform members of the public and policymakers. Commissioned in 2007 and completed this spring, the science-based report is an objective, consensus product spanning two presidential administrations.
For additional information and to read the full report, click here.
Call For Projects
Share Your Regional Council's Projects and Experiences
We invite you to share your experiences with others interested in climate change assessment and response. Click HERE to submit your best practices to NARC through our brief online survey.