Environmental Programs

Comprehensive Plan: Environment for Everyone

The City's environmental priorities are outlined in the "Environmental Sustainability, Resilience and Natural Resources" Chapter of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Environment for Everyone, which was unanimously adopted by City Council in 2020. The chapter addresses how environmental goals can be incorporated in urban planning for the future and the development of the City’s thriving urban activity center. This should be done in such a way that the community is able to reap the maximum benefit from integrating natural resources with the built environment while also ensuring natural resources are protected and improved.  More information on the process of community consultation that informed the chapter update is described on the "Chapter 5 Update" page. 

Falls Church Commitment to Greenhouse Gas Reduction

The City has committed to GHG emissions reduction goals to reduce our impact on the changing climate. In 2017, City Council resolved to adopt the regional goals established by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), to reduce emissions of GHGs below 2005 levels by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. In 2020, it supported the adoption of a regional interim goal by MWCOG to achieve a 50% reduction in regional GHG emissions by 2030.

To help identify actions and strategy to meet these ambitious targets, the City is developing two Energy Action Plans - one focused on Government Operations and the other focused on the broader City of Falls Church Community.

The Government Operations Energy Action Plan was unanimously adopted by City Council on July 17, 2023.  

Development of the Community Energy Action Plan is underway.  City staff are working with expert consultants and the community on its components. For information on the development of the plan, and to provide your suggestions and comments, please go to the Community Energy Action Plan webpage.