Montgomery County, Pennsylvania has released a climate change risk analysis for the county. The MONTGOMERY COUNTY CLIMATE CHANGE POTENTIAL VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS found:
Climate change is affecting the residents of Montgomery County. From record heat to intense storms, such as Hurricane Ida in 2021, Montgomery County is experiencing the impacts of climate change. Scientific studies show that our region will become increasingly hotter, and we will experience more intense and frequent storm events. Understanding the populations, places, and infrastructure that may be affected is critical for our communities as they adapt and become more resilient to climate change. To assist our stakeholders in gaining a better understanding of climate change and its effects, the Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) has created the Montgomery County Climate Change Potential Vulnerability Analysis.
The Montgomery County Climate Change Potential Vulnerability Analysis is the county’s latest effort to address climate change. In 2007, Montgomery County completed Greenprint for Montgomery County: Climate Change Action Plan, a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory along with a set of broad recommendations for action. The Montgomery County Commissioners formed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task Force and embraced a range of short- and mid-term greenhouse gas reduction targets. In 2015, the topic of sustainability and climate change was incorporated into the county comprehensive plan, Montco 2040: A Shared Vision. The county commissioners passed a resolution setting revised climate action goals in 2019. Most recently, the county partnered with Montgomery County municipalities to work on a Montgomery County Regional Climate Action Plan that will address the challenges highlighted in the Montgomery County Climate Change Potential Vulnerability Analysis.