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Climate change in Washington, D.C.

February 16, 2024

Climate change in Washington, D.C. is marked by rising temperatures, increased rainfall and flooding, and storm surges of the Potomac River. Tourism is directly impacted as the cherry blossom bloom is shifting. The city's government is active in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Consequences edit

 
Wildfire smoke, 2023 wildfire season

Rising temperatures edit

Climate change has already caused a 2 °F (1.1 °C) temperature rise (compared to 50 years ago) in D.C.,[1] warming more than the average nationwide.[2] By the 2080s, the average summer high temperature of the district is expected to increase from the historic high of 87 °F (31 °C) to anywhere between 93 °F (34 °C) and 97 °F (36 °C).[1] This continues the trend of the District's rising summer temperatures, as five out of six of the District's hottest recorded summers have transpired after 2010.[2] These rising temperatures have an adverse effect on the health of residents, raising the risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory issues due to increased ozone, pollen, and ragweed counts, and increased disease spread by mosquitoes due to the higher biting rates and faster life cycles caused by rising temperatures.[2]

Summers are 5–10% more humid in 2019 than they were in the 1970s, according to analysis by the Washington Post. This results in up to a 5 °F (2.3 °C) increase in perceived temperature. Thus an 86 °F (30 °C) summer day, which felt like 89 °F (32 °C) in the 1970s, may now feel more like 91 °F (33 °C)–92 °F (33 °C) degrees.[3]

Shifting rainfall edit

Rainfall is expected to increase during the winter and spring, but remain largely stagnant during fall and summer. This, when combined with increased temperatures drying soil, will increase flooding during winter and spring but increase drought during fall and summer.[2]

Flooding and land subsidence edit

 
Flooding at Washington Harbour, 2010
 
Home reconstruction following floods, 2001

By 2017, land subsidence was ongoing, nuisance flooding had become more common in the waterfront areas of the city.[4]

 
Levee construction drilling, 2016

Early blooming of cherry blossoms edit

Washington’s cherry trees are blooming earlier: since 1921, peak bloom dates have shifted earlier by approximately five days.[5][6] The timing of the peak bloom is important to tourism and the local economy because the cherry blossoms draw more than one million people each year, many of whom are visitors.[7]

Climate change mitigation policies edit

 
Rooftop solar installation

Gray Administration edit

Under Mayor Vincent Gray, the city began an effort known as the Sustainable DC. As part of this effort, Gray signed the Sustainable DC Act of 2012. [8] This act had various sections dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, natural river conservation, renewable energy, ENERGY STAR ratings for buildings, Anacostia River cleanup, urban agriculture, and healthy air. [9]

Alongside this act, the office released the Sustainable DC Plan. This plan was drafted in 2011 and released in February 2013,[10][11] with the vow to make the city the "healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the United States" by 2032. This plan was developed in cooperation with 4,700 people via 24 public events. The plan outlined the following priorities:

  • Spending $500 million to make city buildings more energy efficient, requiring them to generate at least as much energy as they consume
  • Increasing the cost of parking, and aiming to have a quarter of all commuter trips be by bike or foot and half by public transportation
  • Reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and energy use by 50 percent by 2032
  • Improving recycling and establishing municipal composting
  • Spending $4.5 million to create 10 “mini” neighborhood parks out of existing parking spaces
  • Proposing a ban on plastic foam food containers
  • Creating swimmable and fishable Anacostia River

Mayor Gray left office after a single term, but several of these initiatives persisted after his time in office. [12] Specifically, the ban on styrofoam containers went into effect on January 1, 2016, "banning businesses and organizations that serve food or beverages from using disposable food service ware made of expanded polystyrene" [13]

Bowser Administration edit

Mayor Muriel Bowser assumed office in January 2015, and appointed former DC Council member Tommy Wells director for the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE).

DOEE and the Department of Employment Services (DOES) partnered in 2016 to create Solar Works DC, a program which trains local workers to install residential solar panels on hundreds of homes of low-income residents. [14][15][16]

In November 2016, the City of the District of Columbia published the Climate Ready DC Plan, a climate adaptation plan. [17] In this report, the city committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2032 and 80% by 2050.

In December 2017, at the North American Climate Summit, Mayor Bowser pledged to make Washington DC carbon-neutral and climate resilient by 2050. This commitment expanded the previous 80% reduction to 100% reduction. [18] That same year, the city has also mandated 50% renewable energy by 2032.[15]

Mayor Bowser also created a successor to the Sustainable DC Plan, known as Sustainable DC 2.0, released in August 2018. Development of this plan took place over 20 months, and involved more than 4000 people. [19] This plan has focus areas including: Governance, Equity, Built Environment, Climate, Economy, Education, Energy, Food, Health, Nature, Transportation, Waste, and Water. [20]

The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018,[21] effective March 2019, mandated that 100% of the District’s energy supply come from Tier 1 renewable energy sources by 2032. [22] A 2022 report on the progress of this mandate indicates that the number of certified Community Renewable Energy Facilities (CREFs) grew from 12 in 2019 to 219 by the end of 2021. [23]

The Climate Commitment Act of 2022,[24] passed in 2022, codifies the District's commitment to the Paris Agreement, by mandating that the city neutralize GHG emissions by 2045, reach carbon neutrality in government operations by 2040, and end new purchases of fossil fuel-based heating equipment and vehicles by 2025 and 2026. [25]

The Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022 requires all new construction or substantial improvements of covered buildings to be constructed to a net-zero-energy standard, beginning on January 1, 2027.[26]

As of April 2023, the Bowser administration is currently in the process of updating the 2018 Clean Energy DC Plan, calling the new report Clean Energy DC 2.0 (CEDC 2.0). The aim of the new plan is to reduce emissions by 56% in 2032 compared to a 2006 baseline.[27][28]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Department of Energy and Environment. (2016). Climate Ready DC: The District of Columbia's Plan to Adapt to a Changing Climate. (Report No. 123).
  2. ^ a b c d United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). What Climate Change Means for the District of Columbia. (Report No. 123).
  3. ^ Cappucci, Matthew; Samenow, Jason (August 22, 2019). "Climate change has increased humidity in D.C., making it feel even hotter". The Washington Post. from the original on 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  4. ^ O'Donnell, Paul (2017-03-07). "Washington Is Sinking, and It's Only Going to Get Worse". Washingtonian. from the original on 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  5. ^ Waxman, Olivia (March 21, 2017). "Springtime's Cherry Blossoms Have a Dark Side". Time. from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  6. ^ Ashley (July 10, 2019). "Williams". Accuweather. from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  7. ^ "What Climate Change Means for the District of Columbia" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. November 2016.
  8. ^ . DC.gov. 2013-01-16. Archived from the original on 2017-01-06.
  9. ^ "DC Legislation Information Management System". lims.dccouncil.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  10. ^ "SUSTAINABLE DC PLAN" (PDF). SUSTAINABLE DC PLAN. (PDF) from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  11. ^ Craig, Tim (2013-02-19). "Gray: Plan would make District 'healthiest, greenest and most livable' city". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  12. ^ DeBonis, Mike (2014-12-31). "Vincent Gray is leaving plans behind. Lots and lots of plans". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  13. ^ "Foam Free DC | ddoe". doee.dc.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  14. ^ "Solar Works DC | ddoe". doee.dc.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  15. ^ a b "Washington D.C. launches new low-income solar & job training program". PV magazine USA. 2017-05-26. from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  16. ^ Murillo, Mike (2017-07-24). "New DC program puts solar panels on homes of low-income families". WTOP. from the original on 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  17. ^ "Climate Adaptation and Preparedness". District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment. from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  18. ^ "Mayor Bowser Commits to Make Washington, DC Carbon-Neutral and Climate Resilient by 2050 | mayormb". mayor.dc.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  19. ^ "Sustainable DC History | sustainable". sustainable.dc.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  20. ^ "Preparing for Climate Change in District of Columbia". Georgetown Climate Center. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  21. ^ "D.C. Law 22-257. CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018. | D.C. Law Library". code.dccouncil.us. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  22. ^ "D.C. Council gives preliminary approval to ambitious clean-energy goals". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  23. ^ "DCPSC - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) Report". dcpsc.org. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  24. ^ "D.C. Law 24-176. Climate Commitment Amendment Act of 2022. | D.C. Law Library". code.dccouncil.us. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  25. ^ "Progress". clean-energy-dc-dcgis.hub.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  26. ^ "D.C. Law 24-177. Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022. | D.C. Law Library". code.dccouncil.us. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  27. ^ "Clean Energy DC | ddoe". doee.dc.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  28. ^ "Clean Energy DC". clean-energy-dc-dcgis.hub.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.

February 16, 2024
climate, change, washington, marked, rising, temperatures, increased, rainfall, flooding, storm, surges, potomac, river, tourism, directly, impacted, cherry, blossom, bloom, shifting, city, government, active, climate, adaptation, mitigation, efforts, contents. Climate change in Washington D C is marked by rising temperatures increased rainfall and flooding and storm surges of the Potomac River Tourism is directly impacted as the cherry blossom bloom is shifting The city s government is active in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts Contents 1 Consequences 1 1 Rising temperatures 1 2 Shifting rainfall 1 3 Flooding and land subsidence 1 4 Early blooming of cherry blossoms 2 Climate change mitigation policies 2 1 Gray Administration 2 2 Bowser Administration 3 See also 4 ReferencesConsequences edit nbsp Wildfire smoke 2023 wildfire seasonRising temperatures edit Climate change has already caused a 2 F 1 1 C temperature rise compared to 50 years ago in D C 1 warming more than the average nationwide 2 By the 2080s the average summer high temperature of the district is expected to increase from the historic high of 87 F 31 C to anywhere between 93 F 34 C and 97 F 36 C 1 This continues the trend of the District s rising summer temperatures as five out of six of the District s hottest recorded summers have transpired after 2010 2 These rising temperatures have an adverse effect on the health of residents raising the risk of heat related illnesses respiratory issues due to increased ozone pollen and ragweed counts and increased disease spread by mosquitoes due to the higher biting rates and faster life cycles caused by rising temperatures 2 Summers are 5 10 more humid in 2019 than they were in the 1970s according to analysis by the Washington Post This results in up to a 5 F 2 3 C increase in perceived temperature Thus an 86 F 30 C summer day which felt like 89 F 32 C in the 1970s may now feel more like 91 F 33 C 92 F 33 C degrees 3 Shifting rainfall edit Rainfall is expected to increase during the winter and spring but remain largely stagnant during fall and summer This when combined with increased temperatures drying soil will increase flooding during winter and spring but increase drought during fall and summer 2 Flooding and land subsidence edit nbsp Flooding at Washington Harbour 2010 nbsp Home reconstruction following floods 2001By 2017 land subsidence was ongoing nuisance flooding had become more common in the waterfront areas of the city 4 nbsp Levee construction drilling 2016Early blooming of cherry blossoms edit Washington s cherry trees are blooming earlier since 1921 peak bloom dates have shifted earlier by approximately five days 5 6 The timing of the peak bloom is important to tourism and the local economy because the cherry blossoms draw more than one million people each year many of whom are visitors 7 Climate change mitigation policies edit nbsp Rooftop solar installationGray Administration edit Under Mayor Vincent Gray the city began an effort known as the Sustainable DC As part of this effort Gray signed the Sustainable DC Act of 2012 8 This act had various sections dedicated to promoting energy efficiency natural river conservation renewable energy ENERGY STAR ratings for buildings Anacostia River cleanup urban agriculture and healthy air 9 Alongside this act the office released the Sustainable DC Plan This plan was drafted in 2011 and released in February 2013 10 11 with the vow to make the city the healthiest greenest and most livable city in the United States by 2032 This plan was developed in cooperation with 4 700 people via 24 public events The plan outlined the following priorities Spending 500 million to make city buildings more energy efficient requiring them to generate at least as much energy as they consume Increasing the cost of parking and aiming to have a quarter of all commuter trips be by bike or foot and half by public transportation Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use by 50 percent by 2032 Improving recycling and establishing municipal composting Spending 4 5 million to create 10 mini neighborhood parks out of existing parking spaces Proposing a ban on plastic foam food containers Creating swimmable and fishable Anacostia RiverMayor Gray left office after a single term but several of these initiatives persisted after his time in office 12 Specifically the ban on styrofoam containers went into effect on January 1 2016 banning businesses and organizations that serve food or beverages from using disposable food service ware made of expanded polystyrene 13 Bowser Administration edit Mayor Muriel Bowser assumed office in January 2015 and appointed former DC Council member Tommy Wells director for the District Department of Energy amp Environment DOEE DOEE and the Department of Employment Services DOES partnered in 2016 to create Solar Works DC a program which trains local workers to install residential solar panels on hundreds of homes of low income residents 14 15 16 In November 2016 the City of the District of Columbia published the Climate Ready DC Plan a climate adaptation plan 17 In this report the city committed to reducing greenhouse gas GHG emissions by 50 by 2032 and 80 by 2050 In December 2017 at the North American Climate Summit Mayor Bowser pledged to make Washington DC carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050 This commitment expanded the previous 80 reduction to 100 reduction 18 That same year the city has also mandated 50 renewable energy by 2032 15 Mayor Bowser also created a successor to the Sustainable DC Plan known as Sustainable DC 2 0 released in August 2018 Development of this plan took place over 20 months and involved more than 4000 people 19 This plan has focus areas including Governance Equity Built Environment Climate Economy Education Energy Food Health Nature Transportation Waste and Water 20 The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 21 effective March 2019 mandated that 100 of the District s energy supply come from Tier 1 renewable energy sources by 2032 22 A 2022 report on the progress of this mandate indicates that the number of certified Community Renewable Energy Facilities CREFs grew from 12 in 2019 to 219 by the end of 2021 23 The Climate Commitment Act of 2022 24 passed in 2022 codifies the District s commitment to the Paris Agreement by mandating that the city neutralize GHG emissions by 2045 reach carbon neutrality in government operations by 2040 and end new purchases of fossil fuel based heating equipment and vehicles by 2025 and 2026 25 The Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022 requires all new construction or substantial improvements of covered buildings to be constructed to a net zero energy standard beginning on January 1 2027 26 As of April 2023 the Bowser administration is currently in the process of updating the 2018 Clean Energy DC Plan calling the new report Clean Energy DC 2 0 CEDC 2 0 The aim of the new plan is to reduce emissions by 56 in 2032 compared to a 2006 baseline 27 28 See also editPlug in electric vehicles in Washington D C References edit a b Department of Energy and Environment 2016 Climate Ready DC The District of Columbia s Plan to Adapt to a Changing Climate Report No 123 a b c d United States Environmental Protection Agency 2016 What Climate Change Means for the District of Columbia Report No 123 Cappucci Matthew Samenow Jason August 22 2019 Climate change has increased humidity in D C making it feel even hotter The Washington Post Archived from the original on 2019 08 22 Retrieved 2019 09 21 O Donnell Paul 2017 03 07 Washington Is Sinking and It s Only Going to Get Worse Washingtonian Archived from the original on 2017 03 07 Retrieved 2019 09 21 Waxman Olivia March 21 2017 Springtime s Cherry Blossoms Have a Dark Side Time Archived from the original on 2017 03 21 Retrieved 2019 09 21 Ashley July 10 2019 Williams Accuweather Archived from the original on 2018 02 28 Retrieved 2019 09 21 What Climate Change Means for the District of Columbia PDF United States Environmental Protection Agency November 2016 Sustainable DC Act DC gov 2013 01 16 Archived from the original on 2017 01 06 DC Legislation Information Management System lims dccouncil gov Retrieved 2023 04 21 SUSTAINABLE DC PLAN PDF SUSTAINABLE DC PLAN Archived PDF from the original on 2023 04 21 Retrieved 2023 04 21 Craig Tim 2013 02 19 Gray Plan would make District healthiest greenest and most livable city Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2023 04 21 DeBonis Mike 2014 12 31 Vincent Gray is leaving plans behind Lots and lots of plans Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2023 04 21 Foam Free DC ddoe doee dc gov Retrieved 2023 04 21 Solar Works DC ddoe doee dc gov Retrieved 2023 04 21 a b Washington D C launches new low income solar amp job training program PV magazine USA 2017 05 26 Archived from the original on 2017 07 04 Retrieved 2019 09 21 Murillo Mike 2017 07 24 New DC program puts solar panels on homes of low income families WTOP Archived from the original on 2017 07 25 Retrieved 2019 09 21 Climate Adaptation and Preparedness District of Columbia Department of Energy amp Environment Archived from the original on 2023 04 21 Retrieved 2023 04 21 Mayor Bowser Commits to Make Washington DC Carbon Neutral and Climate Resilient by 2050 mayormb mayor dc gov Retrieved 2023 04 21 Sustainable DC History sustainable sustainable dc gov Retrieved 2023 04 21 Preparing for Climate Change in District of Columbia Georgetown Climate Center Retrieved 2023 04 21 D C Law 22 257 CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 D C Law Library code dccouncil us Retrieved 2023 04 21 D C Council gives preliminary approval to ambitious clean energy goals Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2023 04 21 DCPSC Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard RPS Report dcpsc org Retrieved 2023 04 21 D C Law 24 176 Climate Commitment Amendment Act of 2022 D C Law Library code dccouncil us Retrieved 2023 04 21 Progress clean energy dc dcgis hub arcgis com Retrieved 2023 04 21 D C Law 24 177 Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022 D C Law Library code dccouncil us Retrieved 2023 04 21 Clean Energy DC ddoe doee dc gov Retrieved 2023 04 21 Clean Energy DC clean energy dc dcgis hub arcgis com Retrieved 2023 04 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Climate change in Washington D C amp oldid 1194530570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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