Climate change is now widely recognized as a significant threat to the planet. Human activities resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” are causing average air and water temperatures to rise, changing the amounts and intensity of rainfall, and causing a rise in sea levels.

In the City of Falls Church, any example of the impact of a changing climate is an increased chance of more severe rainfall and storm events posing a risk of flooding and damage to homes and other property. In addition, the days each year above 94 degrees F in Falls Church are likely to increase from 7 in 1990 to 39 by 2050.

City of Falls Church Climate and Energy Plan

In early  2021, VPIS called on the City to work with stakeholders to develop a plan of action for making progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

In mid-2021, the City released a draft Climate Change Mitigation Energy Action Plan and, in October of 2021, VPIS wrote to the City providing comments on the draft plan. VPIS noted that, although the draft plan “is a good start, it needs significant improvement with respect to the measures it suggests and commitment to management actions that will assure that the suggested measures are implemented.”

In 2023, the City published two energy and climate plans. The Community Energy Action Plan describes steps the City will take to reduce release of greenhouse gases from the community as a whole. The second plan, the Government Operations Energy Action Plan, focuses on measures the City will implement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from its buildings, vehicles, and other operations.

VPIS will monitor the development of elements of the City climate and energy plans and provide comments where needed. For example, in 2024 VPIS wrote to the City Council urging expanded funding for measures to implement the energy and climate plans for government operations and the community as a whole. In 2025, VPIS also wrote to the City Council to support increased funding for implementing climate and energy plans.

For more information on climate change in Falls Church, contact Jeff Peterson; VPIS Board Member