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long the scenic shores of Sandy Point State Park overlooking the treasured Chesapeake Bay, Governor Martin O’Malley announced two landmark initiatives that address global warming and the impacts of sea level rise in Maryland.
The event, held April 20 as a part of Earth Day celebrations, was attended by the Governor, Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson, Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin, Senator Paul G. Pinksy, Delegate Virginia P. Claggett, former Delegate C. Richard "Dick" D'Amato, and many environmental groups and businesses.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Governor O’Malley signed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in which Maryland became the 10th state to join the Northeast regional climate change and energy efficiency program.
“I am proud that Maryland is joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which will protect and preserve our communities for future generations,” said Governor O’Malley. “The fight to prevent global warming crosses state lines, and Maryland is proud to join its neighbors in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting our electric industry.”
“Maryland has made great progress over the past 20 years in controlling air pollution by reducing ozone and fine particles. Addressing carbon dioxide/greenhouse gasses is the next big air issue for Maryland,” said Secretary Wilson.
RGGI is the first regional cap and trade program specifically aimed at reducing power plant CO2 emissions. RGGI uses a market-based approach that focuses on low compliance costs and energy efficiency. Emission caps are used to establish the total annual CO2 emissions allowed for each RGGI member state, which drive regional emission reductions.
Maryland’s participation in RGGI will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Maryland’s electrical generators by roughly 10 percent from current levels by 2019 by the most cost-effective means.
“Today’s signing represents the culmination of lots of hard work by MDE and our sister state agencies. I would like to thank our Air Quality Planning Program staff led by Diane Franks for their hard work on RGGI,” said George (Tad) Aburn, director of MDE’s Air and Radiation Management Administration.
Sea Level Rise
We now know with certainty that human activities – including coastal development, the burning of fossil fuels and increasing greenhouse gas emissions – are contributing to both the causes and consequences of climate change.
There is now near universal scientific consensus that the world climate is changing with an estimated rise in temperature over the next century. If unchecked, rising temperatures will translate into devastating impacts to Maryland’s people, property, natural resources, and public investments.
Due to its geography and geology, the Chesapeake Bay region is ranked the third most vulnerable to sea level rise, behind Louisiana and Southern Florida. Sea level rise impacts are already being detected all along Maryland’s coast. There has been approximately one foot of sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay over the past 100 years.
The primary impacts of sea level rise include intensified coastal flood events, increased shore erosion, inundation of wetlands and low-lying lands, and salt-water intrusion into groundwater. Maryland’s varied coastline is highly susceptible to all such impacts.
Executive Order: Maryland Commission on Climate Change
Governor O’Malley also signed an Executive Order that establishes a Climate Change Commission charged with collectively developing an action plan to address the causes of climate change, prepare for the likely consequences and impacts of climate change to Maryland and establish firm benchmarks and timetables for implementing the Commission’s recommendations.
“Protecting our communities from climate change is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue – it is a Maryland issue,” said Governor O’Malley. “This Executive Order charts a path for the future – one in which we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and work to prevent sea level rise and coastal flooding.”
The Commission on Climate Change is charged with addressing Maryland’s climate challenge on all fronts. The Commission will:
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undertake an assessment of climate change impacts, calculate Maryland’s carbon footprint, and investigate climate change dynamics with the assistance of the University System of Maryland;
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work together with the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration and a broad set of stakeholders, including renewable and traditional energy providers and the business community, to develop a comprehensive greenhouse gas and carbon footprint reduction strategy; and,
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coordinate with the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources and Planning, and a comprehensive group of planners, emergency responders and environmental organizations, as well as business and insurance representatives, to develop a strategy for reducing Maryland’s vulnerability to climate change, with an initial focus on sea level rise and coastal hazards.
Click here for more information about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Maryland Commission on Climate Change.
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