Climate Resilience

Taking practical, common sense steps to address climate change today is in the best interest of future generations. In metropolitan Washington, average annual temperature and sea level in the Potomac River have been and will continue to rise, but most people are more likely to notice the increase in extreme events such as severe storms and heat waves. Changes in the number of hot and cold days may affect energy usage patterns, health (e.g., asthma), plant and animal habitats, and infrastructure (e.g., buckling of concrete roads). These changes are also affecting stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater.

Communities in the region are working together to identify and prepare for the risks ahead. A key focus of COG’s climate resilience work is to build the capacity of regional leaders to understand and address the unavoidable impacts of climate change through training, technical assistance, and partnerships.

As a result, several reports, guidebooks, and other tools have been developed to guide the region in its climate resilience work, including Summary of Potential Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation Strategies in the Metropolitan Washington Region, Using Smart Growth Strategies to Create More Resilient Communities in the Washington, D.C., Region, Washington Metro Area Climate Information, and Climate Resilient National Capital Region Report.

Featured Project:

US Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

COG is coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District and local cost-share partners to evaluate the performance of current flood protection infrastructure along the northern Virginia bank of the Potomac. After analyzing tidal flooding risks, the Corps will develop designs for new flood protection systems–including green and gray infrastructure–to reduce to risk to northern Virginia communities and built assets.