Charles County Government, the Resilience Authority of Charles County, Inc., and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have released the first-ever county level Climate Adaptation Report Card by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences. This Report Card provides a comprehensive snapshot of county-level resilience to climate-related threats, measuring the progress of the Charles County’s significant investments to date in building a more resilient community.
The Report Card was presented to the Charles County Board of Commissioners in May and was further promoted at the June 13th Blue Crabs Environmental Resources event, to increase community awareness of environmental stewardship and climate preparedness in Charles County. Adapting to the ever-increasing threats of climate change is essential to Charles County, and many initiatives, from the county to the community level, are focused on just that. This Report Card quantifies the resilience already reached through these efforts, along with the level of vulnerability to specific threats, and provides recommendations to aid in prioritizing adaptation actions to build resilience into the future.
This is the first such Report Card to assess resilience and vulnerability indicators side by side to inform this prioritization.
Overall resilience in Charles County received a score of B-. Three categories of resilience indicators were assessed: Environment, Human Well-being, and Flooding. The assessment found that while the County has achieved resilience in some areas, there is still work to be done.
“This inaugural report card establishes an accountability and progress metric for adaptation efforts,” said Stacy Schaefer, Executive Director of the Charles County Resilience Authority. “By identifying indicators that can measure progress, we are taking a necessary step towards enhancing climate adaptation efforts by recognizing that while we have accomplished much, we still have work to do as climate change continues.”
The report card utilizes data-driven insights to illustrate areas of strength and identify opportunities for further enhancement. By informing decision-making and focusing resilience-building efforts on underserved communities, the County and the Resilience Authority aim to ensure that climate threats are not disproportionately harmful, promoting a more equitable and secure future for all Charles County residents.
“The Climate Adaptation Report Card represents an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to strengthen Charles County’s resilience to climate change. By establishing clear, measurable indicators, we are not only holding ourselves accountable but also building a stronger foundation for future progress,” said Deb Hall, Acting County Administrator, Charles County Government. “This work reflects our commitment to protecting our communities, infrastructure, and natural resources today and for generations to come. While we’re proud of the progress made, this report card also underscores the need for continued action as we adapt to a changing climate.”
“The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is honored to partner with Charles County Government and the Resilience Authority on this vital initiative,” said Dr. Katie May Laumann, Associate Director of Research. “This report card exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to climate resilience, demonstrating how scientific data can be effectively translated into actionable strategies that benefit communities. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this work in Charles County.”
The Charles County, MD Climate Adaptation Report Card can be accessed here.
