The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is hosting a series of public engagement meetings and webinars to provide residents with the opportunity to learn about and provide input on its draft climate change plan. The draft plan outlines what the State and local governments will need to do to reduce in-state greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from their 2006 levels by 2030 and prepare for further reductions in the future.

Counties or other interested parties email their comments on the draft plan to christopher.beck@maryland.gov.

Or by mail to:

Christopher Beck
Climate Change Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 730
Baltimore, Maryland 21230

According to MDE:

The Maryland Department of the Environment is required by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act – Reauthorization to develop a statewide greenhouse gas reduction plan. The department developed the draft plan in coordination with other state agencies and stakeholders, including the bipartisan Maryland Commission on Climate Change. The law also requires the department to solicit public comment on the draft plan from interested stakeholders and the public before adopting a final plan.

The draft plan will achieve a 44% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, surpassing the 40% reduction goal required by state law. In addition to reducing emissions that contribute to climate change, the draft plan will also promote better air quality by reducing emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution. It will also improve water quality through reductions in nitrogen pollution to the state’s waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has been undertaking a robust public process to provide opportunities for citizens, to comment on the draft plan. Information on the draft plan and how to submit comments is available here.

For more details and meeting dates, contact Christopher Beck at MDE.