Maryland Commission on Climate Change: Update to Governor and General Assembly

摘要

In April of 2007, Governor Martin O'Malley established the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (Commission) through Executive Order 01.01.2007.07. The order charged the Commission with the task of developing a Climate Action Plan to discuss the drivers and consequences of climate change, necessary preparations for its ensuing impacts on the State, and establish firm benchmarks and timetables for policy implementation. Secretary Shari Wilson of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) chairs the Commission. The Climate Action Plan (Plan) was completed and submitted to the Governor and General Assembly in August of 2008. The Plan includes an integrated climate impact assessment prepared by the Commission's Scientific and Technical Working Group (STWG). The STWG's assessment recognizes how human activities such as coastal development, burning fossil fuels, and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are contributing to the causes and consequences of climate change. It stresses the precarious position in which Maryland is poised regarding the impacts of climate change; with its extensive amount of coastline, Maryland is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise caused by climate change, and related issues such as shore erosion, coastal flooding, storm surge, and inundation.