Climate Action

Regional Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change refers to the consequences that occur when too many greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere and trapped. These may come from power plants, a car’s fuel pipe, landfills and energy usage. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap the sun’s heat and make the Earth’s overall temperature warmer, creating changes in the climate. It is predicted that our area will likely see the following changes in climate and weather according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): 

  • Increased heat
  • Increased precipitation events, both snow and rainfall
  • Increased drought

Over 100 years of data have been collected for this region. The average annual temperature, as measured in Beltsville, Maryland, has risen by 4 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, sea levels in the District of Columbia have risen almost 10 inches over the past 80 years. 

What Can I Do? 

The key to reducing the impacts of climate change in Bowie is collectively lowering our individual greenhouse gas emissions. The City conducted a Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory and found our biggest emitters are our residential energy usage and transportation sectors. Therefore, your choices will have the biggest impact on climate change in our community. 

Learn what you can do to reduce your emissions by reducing your energy use,using alternative transportation, composting and more.

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Climate Action Plan

Thanks to the hard work of the Environmental Advisory Committee ClimateActionPlan_thumb.jpg Opens in new windowthe Green Team’s Energy subgroup and staff, a Climate Action Plan was adopted by City Council for years 2020 - 2025.  A resolution (R-47-20) to accept the updated Climate Action Plan was approved on July 6, 2020. 

The original Climate Action Plan was approved by City Council on January 5, 2015, and provided insight and actions through 2020. That plan is now closed out. If you’d like to know more about the City’s work on the original Climate Action Plan, take a look at the annual progress reports or view the original Climate Action Plan from 2015.