And yet, information presented to the public makes it appear that we have made tremendous progress. We’re now in the sixth of the ten years in which we’re supposed to make the 80% reduction, and according to new data from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments we are clearly falling short. The county has described those targets as “among the most ambitious in the country and the world.” The Montgomery County Council unanimously adopted a resolution to declare a Climate Emergency and committed to reduce the county’s carbon pollution 80% by 2027, and 100% by 2035. Montgomery County, along with dozens of communities state- and nationwide, has a significant role in reducing polluting greenhouse gases to stem the worst impacts of climate change. And Montgomery County is not immune to these impacts already peak cherry blossom bloom dates have shifted seven days earlier since 1921. The incidence of Lyme disease, which thrives in warmer weather, has doubled since 1991.

is experiencing some of the most severe sea-level rise on the planet. has increased from once every 4 months in the 1980s to once every 3 weeks (after accounting for inflation). The frequency of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. has warmed 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970 and the annual rate of warming is accelerating. Sergeant Joe Friday of Dragnet fame advisedly said, “just the facts, ma’am”.

Environmental Protection Agency and is now a member of the Climate Action Plan Coalition of Montgomery County. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.īoucher is a retired scientist he directed the Climate Research and Analysis team of the Union of Concerned Scientists for a decade. This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Business & Finance Click to expand menu.

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