In December, the governors of Maryland and Virginia called for action on climate change, recognizing the need for all levels of government to cooperate to address this challenge. Newly approved legislation in the District of Columbia establishes requirements for renewable electricity, building efficiency improvements, and transitioning to zero emission and other cleaner transportation systems.

As the new Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC), I affirm the need to take actions now and look forward to the ways we can work as a region this year to respond to this pressing challenge.

Last year was the fourth hottest year on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. There is no doubt we are experiencing the negative effects of climate change locally, as our neighbors in Ellicott City can attest after facing back-to-back 1,000-year floods. 

At COG, CEEPC will work with members from across the region to develop stronger markets for solar energy, electric vehicles, and high performance buildings. Going further, in February, I will present our committee's recommendations to the COG Board of Directors that the region work collaboratively under the direction of a new Tree Canopy Subcommittee. The subcommittee would work to conserve and manage the nearly one million acres of the region’s tree and forest resources and develop an urban forest action plan and tree canopy goals.  

Trees in our communities offer multiple benefits ranging from lowering the need for air conditioning, helping clean stormwater runoff into our streams, and improving the quality of our neighborhoods. While these actions add to the efforts of regional stakeholders, much work needs to be done to bring these to fruition. Over the course of the next year, CEEPC will champion this issue to help deliver the social, environmental, and financial benefits inherent in world class green infrastructure management.

Our efforts to address climate and energy challenges also will help us address metropolitan Washington’s need to further improve our air quality. As my colleague Dave Snyder, Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC) recently stated, "Effectively meeting the challenges the region faces in attaining new more stringent air quality standards as well as the global challenge of climate change is crucial if we are to avoid potential negative impacts on our local economy, public safety, and health. Continued progress will only be possible with participation by all levels of government, businesses, and residents. As local government leaders, it is incumbent on us to get out in front of these issues to ensure we take the necessary steps needed to deliver effective and lasting solutions.” 

Let’s take a deeper dive into what more we can do together. 

CEEPC has worked to support the region’s solar market for many years and has seen tremendous increases in solar throughout metropolitan Washington. However, there are still legislative challenges that need to be addressed for the solar market to thrive. For example, CEEPC recently stepped up to support Virginia’s Solar Freedom Bill, which would remove barriers to solar deployment in the state. We also are encouraged by Maryland’s expansion of its renewable portfolio standard, which should increase the adoption of solar and other renewable resources. We are confident that in the very near future, our region can lead all mid-Atlantic states in the deployment of solar energy systems.

This spring, CEEPC will again meet at the Washington Auto Show to focus on how individuals and fleets can transition to clean, electric vehicles. Working with a new electric vehicle concierge service, auto dealers, local government fleet managers, and others, we hope to see a redoubled effort to encourage adoption of electric vehicles at the consumer level and with public and private fleets. To support this transition, we will call for all of our partners from Richmond to Boston to continue to work with a sense of urgency to do what it takes to ensure the necessary infrastructure investments are made to support the rapid expansion of EVs in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. This could involve expanding efforts on education and outreach, aligning incentives and local policies, collaborating with electric utilities and clean cities coalitions, and focusing on cooperative purchasing.

Through the bold and coordinated efforts of our residents, businesses, utilities, communities, and past CEEPC members, we can continue to work together to address our regional challenges and meet our goals to ensure resilient and robust communities and economies for the future.

MORE: Tree Canopy Management Strategy

Daniel Sze is the COG Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee Chair and a City of Falls Church Council Member