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The Maryland Department of the Environment is bringing the state’s colleges and universities to the table to share information about their efforts to address climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
On June 16, representatives of 20 Maryland schools attended a meeting of the College Climate Action Group, where they discussed ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Change Division of MDE’s Air and Radiation Management Administration created the panel.
In Maryland, the presidents of 22 colleges and universities have signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment(ACUPCC), which requires each school to complete a greenhouse gas inventory, develop a climate action plan, and implement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve a set target. Of the Maryland institutions participating in ACUPCC, 21 have completed a greenhouse gas inventory and 17 have completed a climate action plan. The target dates vary by institution, with some as soon as next year.
The Maryland institutions have committed to one or more other tangible actions in addition to the general requirements of the ACUPCC. The seven specific actions are:
• Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent
• Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of Energy Star certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist
• Establish a policy offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by the institution
• Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the institution
• Within one year of signing the document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15 percent of the institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources
• Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where the institution’s endowment is invested
• Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition and adopt three or more associated measures to reduce waste.
Maryland is working to reduce our State’s impact on the climate. In 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley signed an Executive Order that established the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, which released the State’s 2008 Climate Action Plan. Maryland is a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first multi-state cap-and-trade emissions program.
And with the passage of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2009, Maryland has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and is preparing a plan to meet a longer-term goal of reducing those emissions by up to 90 percent by 2050. The plan will promote new “green” jobs, protect existing jobs, and positively influence the State’s economy. Maryland’s commitment to regional initiatives such as the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard will help obtain the goals of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act.
The meetings for the College Climate Action Group have attracted sustainability and facility directors from Maryland schools. Each school had an opportunity to discuss achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the challenges they encountered while developing and implementing greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. These efforts will be recognized in the State’s 2012 Climate Action Plan, expected to be released for public review this summer.
Future meetings will be posted on MDE’s online calendar. The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. September 22 at MDE offices in Baltimore.
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