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The Maryland Commission on Climate Change is charged with advising the Governor and General Assembly on ways to mitigate the causes of, prepare for, and adapt to the consequences of climate change and maintaining and strengthening the State's existing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. Commission priorities include building broader partnerships with federal, State and local governments and the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the likely impacts of climate change in Maryland, better communicating with and educating Marylanders about the urgency of the challenge and options to address it, and establishing action plan goals and timetables for implementation.
Maryland has documented a sea level rise of more than one foot in the last century, increasing water temperatures in the Chesapeake Bay, more rain and flooding in the winter and spring and more arid summers. Maryland's people and their property, natural environment and public investments are extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts.
The Commission, originally created by a 2007 Executive Order, was strengthened by a 2014 Executive Order and 2015 legislation with requirements to expand the Commission membership and maintain a comprehensive action plan, with 5-year benchmarks, to achieve science-based reductions in Maryland's greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission meets at least four times per year. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed. The time, date and location for Commission meetings may be found on the calendar on this page. Meetings are open to the public.
The Commission is supported by a Steering Committee and four working groups. These working groups represent diverse stakeholder interests and bring broad perspective and expertise to the Commission's work. The time, date and location for Steering Committee and Working Groups' meetings may be found on the calendar on this page.
For information about the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, please contact Brian Hug:Email:Brian.Hug@maryland.gov Phone: 1-800-633-6101 or 1-800-735-2258 (TTY via MD Relay Service)
The Maryland Commission on Climate Change is interested in hearing from you. Please send an email to climate.change@maryland.gov with your comments or recommendations.
Members of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change
The Commission shall consult with and seek the advice of the following advisors as appropriate: Department of Budget & Management, Department of Business & Economic Development, Department of General Services, Department of Housing & Community Development, Department of Information Technology, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Maryland Association of Counties, Maryland Insurance Commission Maryland Municipal League, and Public Service Commission
Updated November 1, 2016
The Commission's Steering Committee is tasked with combining and refining working group work plans to establish a Commission work plan for the coming year; and with developing a proposal for the format, content and production schedule for the November report.
Updated September 15, 2016
The Adaptation and Response Working Group is charged with developing a Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Maryland's Climate Change vulnerability. The Strategy includes both short-and long-term measures that State and local governments may undertake in planning for and adapting to a rise in sea levels due to climate change.
ARWG meetings will be held quarterly at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The meetings are open to MCCC members and stakeholders.
Click here to read the 2016 Work Plan for the Adaptation and Response Working Group.
Members of the Adaptation and Response Working Group
The Education, Communications and Outreach Working Group is working to address specific communication needs throughout the year focusing on message development & strategy, outreach & education, grassroots & policy and deliverables.
Click here to read the 2017 / 2018 Climate Change Outreach Plan.
ECO has a standing meeting on the third Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m.-Noon at MDE
Co-Chairs: Allison Rich, Maryland Environmental Health Network John Kumm, EA Engineering, Science and Technology
Staff: Maryland Department of the Environment
Members of the Education, Communication, Outreach Working Group
Updated May 26, 2017 (pdf)
A comprehensive Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategy, as well as a detailed implementation plan, is to be prepared by the Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Mitigation Working Group. The Strategy sets goals to reduce Maryland's greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020, and to eighty percent of 2006 levels by 2050.
Scheduled meetings of the Mitigation Working Group are listed in the Meeting Calendar section of this page.
Click here to read the 2016 Work Plan for the Mitigation Working Group.
Members of the Mitigation Working Group
Updated May 1, 2017
Review of the following web sites and documents may facilitate discussion.
The Scientific and Technical Working Group is developing a Comprehensive Climate Change Impact Assessment to provide information and advice on the scientific and technical aspects of climate change. To develop the Assessment, the Working Group is inventorying Maryland's greenhouse gas emission sources and sinks; calculating Maryland's carbon footprint (a measure of the impact of human activity on the environment); investigating the dynamics of climate change based on current and future climate models and predictions; and evaluating the impact of climate change on agriculture, forest resources, fresh water supply, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and human health.
Click here to read the 2016 Work Plan for the Scientific and Technical Working Group.
Chair: Donald F. Boesch, Ph.D., University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Staff: University of Maryland system, Maryland Department of the Environment & Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Updated October 27, 2016
A recent analysis of the Paris Climate Agreement, authored by Ross J. Salawitch, Timothy P. Canty, Austin P. Hope, Walter R. Tribett, Brian F. Bennett, is available free of charge, on-line, at:
Two short videos are available at:
For a comprehensive list of documents related to Climate Change in Maryland, please click here.
We're available on the following channels.
