County Announces New Website Links on Climate Planning, Progress and Action

Per Montgomery County:
Montgomery County has unveiled a new website about all aspects of the County’s actions on climate change. The website brings the County’s array of climate planning, progress and action under one, easy-to-navigate portal. The web address is https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/climate/. The page also can be found on the County’s homepage.

Through the new web portal, visitors can see the County’s climate progress, planning, partners, plans, reports, news, information, public resources and ways to everyone can get involved. Key documents have been translated into six different languages. “Just over a year ago, we launched one of the most aggressive Climate Action Plans in the nation with the goal of eliminating 100 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2035,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Since then, we have passed important legislation, such as Building Energy Performance Standards, and committed historic levels of funding to our efforts to combat climate change. Our efforts are being assisted by new federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act. This new web portal provides a better understanding and transparency of our policies, reforms, events, and activities while tracking the progress made toward our goals. When it comes to saving our environment, every moment counts and communication is key.”

In June 2021, Montgomery County released its Climate Action Plan (CAP), a strategic plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. The plan details the effects of the changing climate on the County and includes strategies to reduce GHG emissions and climate-related risks to residents, businesses and the built and natural environment.

Among the many interactive elements of the website is a calculator for individuals to estimate their carbon footprint. Students can engage with the website through the interactive youth climate education slides. Residents can learn how to adopt best practices for energy efficiency where they live and learn more about electric vehicles.

The County recently released its first Climate Action Plan Annual Report, a work plan detailing the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) accomplishments and Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) plans to combat climate change. During the first year of CAP implementation, County departments and agencies actively worked on 75 climate actions out of the 86 actions identified in the CAP. In FY23, County departments and agencies intend to make progress on 77 climate actions.