Howard County Climate Forward

Climate Action and Resiliency Plan

This 2023 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan builds on Howard County’s existing efforts to reduce emissions, increase resiliency, and achieve environmental equity. This plan identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and achieve greater resilience against the increases in extreme weather that are projected to occur.

Read the full plan here!

Climate Forward

Our Plan

Howard County Climate Forward will serve as a science-based and shovel ready workplan for every department and level of Howard County government. It also includes some recommendations for what partners and individuals can do. In addition, Climate Forward is the County's first climate plan to add a focus on climate resiliency and environmental justice.

Through this bold and historic plan, Howard County aims to:

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2045
Increase carbon sequestration
Increase community resilience to extreme weather events
Increase interdepartmental coordination and environmental equity across programs

Climate Forward Actions

The 2023 Climate Forward Plan is science-based and focused on immediate and practical action. Click the drop-down bars below to learn more about the mitigation and resilience strategies defined in the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and view our progress so far.

Energy

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Buildings

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
E1.1	Increase energy efficiency and conservation in all existing residential, commercial and government buildings.
E1.2	Increase electrification in existing residential, commercial and government buildings.
E1.3	Accelerate the adoption of low GWP refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in commercial properties and reduce refrigerant leaks.

Construct Efficient and Low-Carbon Buildings

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
E2.1	Implement more stringent green building standards for new residential, commercial, and government properties.
E2.2	Phase-in requirements for all-electric new construction for residential, commercial and government properties.

Decarbonize the Energy Supply

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
E3.1	Expand the development of solar energy for residential, commercial, and government properties.

Transportation

Maximize the Use of Electric Vehicles

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
T1.1	Continue to develop a robust EV charging station infrastructure.
T1.2	Accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the community and County government fleet.
T1.3	Transition to a zero-emissions transit vehicle fleet.
T1.4	Transition to a zero-emissions school bus fleet.

Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled in Single Occupancy Vehicles

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
T2.1	Increase public transit ridership by enhancing the effectiveness and reliability of local and regional public transit.
T2.2	Implement microtransit in less dense areas that have a demonstrated need of connection between homes, jobs, and services.
T2.3	Expand and improve sidewalks, crosswalks, pathways, and bike lanes and connect them to jobs, shopping, schools, and recreational amenities.
T2.4	Increase and normalize teleworking options for employees whenever possible.
T2.5	Implement policies, outreach programs, and incentives to promote individual behavior changes to reduce emissions from personal vehicles.

Waste

Reduce Organic Waste Sent to Landfills and Manage Landfill Methane

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
W1.1	Reduce organic waste and expand composting in the residential sector.
W1.2	Incentivize businesses and schools to reduce organic waste and participate in composting.
W1.3	Ensure that Howard County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill and closed landfills meet or exceed the state and federal methane requirements.

Expand the Use of Sustainable Materials and Reduce Waste Generation and Disposal

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
W2.1	Improve sustainable procurement in government operations.
W2.2	Reduce the use of single-use items, particularly plastics and promote waste reduction and reuse throughout Howard County.

Nature Based Solutions

Support Nature Based Climate Solutions to Improve Soil Health, Increase Carbon Sequestration, and Reduce Emissions

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
N1.1	Incentivize adoption of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation practices that reduce GHG’s and sequester carbon.
N1.2	Improve soil health on private lands through outreach and program expansion.
N1.3	Increase sustainable landscaping practices on public lands to improve soil health and reduce GHG emissions.

Conserve Existing Forests and Expand the Tree Canopy

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
N2.1	Protect and restore forest and non-forest tree canopy.

Emergency Management

Become a model for excellent communication, education, and outreach about climate hazards, emergency preparedness, and available resources

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R1A	Create a one stop shop for all resources and services relating to climate hazards.
R1B	Improve existing communication, education, and outreach methods and research best practices to reach communities.
R1C	Ensure equitable access to information.
R1D	Maximize outreach opportunities by layering emergency preparedness information into County communication tools.

Improve emergency preparedness of Howard County citizens

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R2A	Increase number of individual citizens with emergency kits and emergency plans.
R2B	Increase capacity of organizations that can provide emergency services before and during an emergency.
R2C	Target more education and outreach efforts about emergency preparedness and climate action to communities most vulnerable to heat and flooding impacts.

Improve access to emergency shelters, cooling centers, and resources during climate hazard events, especially for underserved and under-resourced communities

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R3A	Raise awareness of and add new warming/cooling centers, emergency shelters, and comfort centers as needed, prioritizing underserved areas.
R3B	Maximize transportation options to get to and from emergency centers during climate hazard emergencies.

Infrastructure Resiliency

Increase resiliency of buildings, infrastructure, and communities to match anticipated climate hazards

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R4A	Continue to lead nationally on building safety and resiliency by researching and piloting building code updates to increase resiliency to severe storms, flooding and heat beyond life safety.
R4B	Promote existing programs to protect underserved populations from extreme heat and explore opportunities to expand eligibility for these programs to more people
R4C	Promote and incentivize building best practices that protect people from impacts of extreme heat
R4D	Improve resilience of critical infrastructure to flooding, heat and other climate hazards
R4E	Implement microgrids throughout Howard County where feasible, prioritizing areas that meet critical community needs
R4F	Implement resiliency hubs to meet critical emergency needs for the community
R4G	Expand recruitment and training for technicians to support HVAC, microgrids, and emergency generators

Reduce heat islands and increase shade in heat vulnerable areas

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R5A	Research and map heat vulnerable areas with a focus on underserved populations.
R5B	Strategically increase tree planting in heat vulnerable areas on both public and private land.
R5C	Research and incorporate use of shade structures and cool surface technologies in public amenities and spaces

Water

Increase installation and facilitate maintenance of stormwater best management practices on residential, commercial, and non-profit properties

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R6A	Expand the CleanScapes program to increase installation and maintenance of stormwater practices on residential properties, with a focus on areas of high flood risk as well as underserved communities.
R6B	Enhance the Community Stormwater Partnership Grant program to further support stormwater best management practices in flood-prone areas, vulnerable watersheds, and underserved communities.
R6C	Expand Commercial Stormwater Solutions Program to provide flexibility in program structure and account for the financial impacts of BMP installation and retrofits to property owners.
R6D	Provide BMP maintenance support and resources that ensure long term success of BMPs installed as part of new development.
R6E	Leverage existing Nonprofit Watershed Protection Partners to implement stormwater management and outreach.

Prioritize stormwater management by strengthening regulations, policies, and innovation

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R7A	Develop a Howard County specific stormwater management guide.
R7B	Consider adjusting and strengthening stormwater management regulations based on climate change predictions.
R7C	Increase support for maintenance and infrastructure updates.
R7D	Employ innovation and natural solutions in stormwater management.
R7E	Establish a fund for pilot projects to encourage innovation.
R7F	Explore increasing the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee, as well as alternative funding solutions.
R7G	Improve reclaimed water capacity and usage.

Determine vulnerable watersheds and prioritize recommended stormwater solutions

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R8A	Establish a new program designed to aid Vulnerable Watersheds.

Ecosystem Services

Maximize the resiliency benefits derived from ecosystem services by improving protections for wetlands, forests, and streams and increasing the acreage of these resources through restoration or creation

Action	Description	Status	Co Benefits
R9A	Improve the protection of existing wetlands, restore degraded wetlands, and investigate wetland creation opportunities.
R9B	Improve the protection of existing forests, restore degraded forests, and increase forest acreage where possible. Retain and expand non-forest tree canopy.
R9C	Improve the protection of streams, restore degraded streams, and increase stream buffers where possible.
R9D	Protect and enhance the natural resources in the Green Infrastructure Network.
R9E	Ensure that planting practices evolve to be resilient to climate change.