Maryland is among a growing number of state and local governments that are taking action on their own to assess the impact of climate change. Among other initiatives, the state recently joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a group of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states that are cooperating on strategies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
Shari T. Wilson, Maryland's environment secretary and the chairwoman of the climate commission, said the panel expects to present a menu of 42 policy responses to the governor this month.
Some, such as the administration's push to increase energy efficiency and production of renewable power, are already under way and should reduce emissions over the next decade, she said. Others, such as expanding public transportation use, could take longer to produce significant results and cost more up front.
"This issue and the reductions cut across every sector of the state, whether it's transportation or energy. It affects everybody," said Wilson.
Any state legislation attempting to curtail carbon dioxide emissions is likely to be controversial. An administration-backed bill that would have committed the state to reducing releases of heat-trapping gases 90 percent by 2050 failed this year in Annapolis. Manufacturers and labor unions warned that it could drive industry from Maryland and cost jobs.
The governor has yet to see any of the commission's reports but looks forward to reviewing them, said his spokesman, Rick Abbruzzese.
"All of this has to be considered with all the stakeholders involved, keeping in mind the national economy and the budgetary issues the state faces," he said. "We'll have to make some decisions on how quickly we can move forward."
But the sooner action is taken, the more likely it is society might temper the impacts, said Boesch: "Given what it takes to stabilize greenhouse gases, time is of the essence."
Among the report's findings:
* An increase in the average annual temperature in Maryland of about 3 degrees Fahrenheit by midcentury is "likely unavoidable;" if greenhouse gas emissions go unchecked, summertime averages could soar by up to 9 degrees, with heat waves lasting practically all summer and 24 days with highs above 100 degrees.
* Increased health risks, particularly for the elderly, the young and those with respiratory problems, due to both heat stress and air pollution aggravated by hot weather;
