Maryland Launches Climate Academy to Help Local Governments Prepare for Climate Change

A Maryland Matters article (2018-05-22) reported on the launch of the Climate Leadership Academy – a State-sponsored program to prepare governments, nonprofits, and the private sector for climate change. The article indicated that the Academy is the first of its kind in the nation and was created with input from a variety of governmental and nongovernmental agencies.

The Academy launched with a 3-day State of the Coast Conference meeting in Cambridge, Maryland on May 21-23. On the first day, invited stakeholders discussed the long-term visions and goals that the Academy should have. MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson participated in that discussion.

From the article:

[Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Mark] Belton and Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles were among the officials who designed the academy. According to the state, they worked with the Association of Climate Change Officers, the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, the Maryland Energy Administration, Maryland Sea Grant, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (which is based in Maryland), and the University of Maryland.

A Maryland Department of Natural Resources press release (2018-05-22) provided further details:

“Under Governor Larry Hogan’s strong and independent leadership, Maryland is well-equipped to lead the country in driving creative, innovative and successful strategies aimed at addressing anticipated climate change-related impacts on our businesses, citizens and communities,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “Through the Climate Leadership Academy, we will support locally-designed and led efforts and initiative by providing a forum for community leaders to build their own capacity, convene with their peers and partners, and share best practices and results.” …

“Ensuring secure, healthy and prosperous communities in the face of a changing climate will require us to deploy a force of leaders across organizations and occupations that have the capacity to successfully address climate related risks and opportunities, and weave them into the DNA of their decision-making,” Association of Climate Change Officers Executive Director Daniel Kreeger said. “We hope that other states will follow Maryland’s lead in taking bold steps to ensure an appropriate resource for their communities, as well as to shape policies that compel participation.”

Useful Links

State of the Coast Agenda

Learn more about the Climate Leadership Academy at MACo’s Summer Conference by attending a session hosted by DNR on Wednesday at 3:15 pm.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: