About Us

COG is the one place in metropolitan Washington that regularly brings leaders together to develop solutions to the region's major challenges. COG prepares plans enabling the region to receive federal funding, provides members with research and data to inform decision-making, and offers a wide range of programs, including commuter services, cooperative purchasing, technical assistance and grants, and public outreach campaigns.

Transportation

Through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), area officials, planners, and engineers ensure a well-managed and maintained transportation system. The TPB, which is staffed by COG, conducts the federally mandated transportation planning process for the region and ensures the uninterrupted flow of federal transportation funds that area jurisdictions receive.

Environment

COG's work engages leaders in various environmental fields from water quality experts to climate scientists. Together, they are advancing regional efforts to restore local waterways, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, promote recycling, and enhance and preserve green space and agriculture.

Community

Area officials and experts, including planning and housing directors and child welfare and health officials, work together with their counterparts at COG to help shape stronger communities throughout the region.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

COG brings police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers, and other leaders together as part of its work to strengthen regional public safety coordination, homeland security planning, and emergency communication.

Environment

Programs

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program Steering Committee was created to provide oversight and guidance on strategies and deliverables for the CPRG program. The committee is comprised of leaders from local and state governments in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Protect Your Pipes

The campaign educates the public about proper care of household plumbing, including information on keeping unwanted items from being flushed down toilets and poured down drains. It aims to prevent costly upkeep for homeowners and wastewater treatment plants as well as protect water quality.

Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership

Led by COG, the partnership is a consortium of local, state, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and private citizens working toward a cleaner, healthier Anacostia watershed.

Clean Air Partners

The public-private partnership, created by COG and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, educates the greater metropolitan Baltimore-Washington region about the health risks associated with poor air quality and the impacts everyday actions have on the environment.

Climate and Energy Planning Technical Assistance

COG is helping its member governments accelerate action toward regional greenhouse gas emission reduction goals by assisting on local climate and energy action plans and electric vehicle (EV) fleet policies and plans.

DMV Climate Partners

Led by COG, DMV Climate Partners is a group of local government partners committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating more resilient communities across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, or DMV.

Go Recycle Campaign

The campaign educates residents about recycling and encourages them to recycle everywhere—at work, at home, and in public spaces. Its website includes facts about recycling, information about where to recycle as well as links to external sites and resources.