Environment

Planning Areas

Through its environmental work, the Council of Governments is advancing a wide range of goals for clean water, air, and land, and a more sustainable region. COG and its member governments are collaborating on planning efforts to reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change as well as improve the region's air quality. COG supports water quality initiatives to revitalize local waterways through wastewater and stormwater planning and ensure a safe, resilient water supply. COG also promotes recycling and supports efforts to enhance and preserve green space and agriculture, which includes food security coordination.

News & Multimedia

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    News

    Clean air achievement: Region meets federal ozone standard

    October 22, 2026

    Following years of coordinated regional action to reduce air pollution, the metropolitan Washington region is officially meeting the 2015 federal ozone standard...

  • Smoky day in Washington DC
    News

    Code Purple: Notice of Very Unhealthy Air

    July 17, 2026

    Smoke coming from wildfires in Canada is contributing to increased levels of fine particle pollution on July 17.

Visit the Environment news page for more.