Frequently Asked Questions

No. "Global Warming" refers to a general trend showing that the Earth's average temperature is increasing due to greenhouse gas emissions impacts on the atmosphere. "Climate Change" refers to the broader impacts greenhouse gas emissions have on weather patterns and Earth's ecology. Climate changes include things like rising sea levels, an increased frequency of severe storms, droughts, wind patterns that fuel wildfires, and losses and shifts in species due to habitat changes.

Frederick County is projected to experience gradual increases in daily average temperature as well as more days with extreme heat each year. The number of extreme heat days—where temperatures hit 95°F or above— is expected to increase from a historically observed 2-3 days per year to a future estimated 19-26 days per year by 2050 and 27-62 days by 2090. Impacts of higher temperatures include greater energy needs and threats to human health. 

The total amount of precipitation falling each year is not projected to change greatly, but rain events will become less frequent and more intense. Heavy rainfall events elevate the risk of flooding. Flooding is a major risk for the County, which has experienced nine major storms with disaster declarations for consequent flooding since 1953. Winter storms are becoming more intense, and it is forecast that the County may experience 10 to 11 severe winter events each year, up from 6 to 7 in 2017.

As precipitation falls less frequently, the risk of droughts is projected to increase, which could be especially damaging for the County’s agriculture. 

The impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed. Minority, disabled, elderly, youth, and low-income populations are more at risk because they may have a difficult time recovering from property damage and interruptions in school or employment, affording repairs or relocation costs, or accessing necessary health or social services after extreme weather events. Minority and low-income communities are often more exposed to climate risks, such as living in areas with less tree cover, which has been linked to higher average temperatures. The County’s community is less vulnerable to climate impacts than the average county in the United States based on socioeconomic, household composition, minority status, and housing type and transportation. Investments in climate resilience will have the greatest impact in areas in the County that are at higher risk to climate impacts due to socioeconomic characteristics and exposure to climate hazards.

Our Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) will be a document that outlines both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. It will establish greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and identify specific actions to achieve those goals. The plan will be developed through a robust stakeholder and public engagement process. 

By providing a guide for achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets at a community-wide scale, the CEAP identifies efficient, effective, and economical opportunities for local governments, businesses, community groups, and individuals to work together to build a more resilient community.

Climate change mitigation describes actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. doing so can slow down climate change and lessen the severity of its impacts. Examples of simple mitigation actions include switching from oil heat to energy-efficient heat pumps; insulating and weatherizing buildings to use less energy; switching to an electric vehicle; using solar energy; and composting food waste. 

Climate change adaptation is about making changes to infrastructure and services to respond to the impacts of climate change. Examples of adaptation measures include improving stormwater systems to better manage intense storm events; making cooling centers available during heat waves; and upgrading water storage and irrigation systems to handle droughts.

A Greenhouse Gas Inventory is an accounting, analysis, and report of greenhouse gas emissions produced by community activities within various categories, such as transportation, agriculture, waste, buildings, electricity, and other sources. We are looking at emissions produced across Frederick County to help us identify the largest sources of emissions and strategize ways to reduce them.