In December 2023, the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan was published. The Plan’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2045. Net-zero is the balance between how much greenhouse gases is added to the environment and how much is taken away.

When put into action, this Plan will create jobs, reduce energy costs for the public, and ensure a just transition to the clean energy economy. Our work improves the health and welfare of people and the environment.

Our program is made up of, 

The technical division. This division puts together the state’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory, a database of all of Maryland’s emissions from all eight sectors. Conducted every three years, the inventory is a snapshot on our progress and guides policy decisions that set Maryland as a national climate leader. 

The policy division.  Implementing the Plan requires emissions reductions in every part of the state, from the coastal plains to the Appalachians. We write policies that help create opportunities for each Marylander – that will transition the state from the fossil fuel era of the past to a clean energy future.  Our staff supports the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC), manages Maryland’s membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and supports Maryland’s membership with the U.S. Climate Alliance (USCA).

Federal funding. This group of dedicated MDE staff manages a very special type of federal funding known in environmental circles as Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG). Funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, CPRG provides billions in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful air pollution.​

Learn more about the Plan, the inventory, Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, and resources here on this website. ​