Aug 19

Aug 19 Local Climate Change Action Plan

Prince George’s County Creating a Plan to Reduce Harmful Impacts of Climate Change and Improve Quality of Life for Residents

By Kevin Drummond

Prince George’s County is currently developing a Climate Action Plan, which the County needs to take to prepare for and adapt to the outcomes of climate change. The plan is being made to provide a roadmap for the County to reduce emissions and prepare for the consequences. The plan is needed because the effects of climate change can cause unhealthy and dangerous results.

Climate change is defined as the long-term change of a region’s average conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, over time. Climate change affects every aspect of life, including health, current lifestyles, and the future. It has no geographic boundaries and scientists have said the evidence has become clearer as the years go by. Climate change is caused by many factors, including use of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal), deforestation, and increased large-scale intensive agricultural activities.

Global climate change is caused by the accumulation of excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Human activities, such as industrialization and burning of fossil fuels have caused more heat-trapping gases, causing an increase in the average temperatures of air, land, and water. The effects include drought, wildfires, extreme storms and precipitation, and the rise of sea level.

The most recent greenhouse gas inventory of Prince George’s County, in 2018, revealed the main sources of emissions were transportation emissions and residential and commercial emissions. To reduce the impacts of climate change, the Climate Action Commission, which is developing the plan, has identified nine important action categories they have the authority to implement that will produce the most benefits to the local economy, public health, and quality of life. The categories are: