By Frank D. Roylance , frank.roylance@baltsun.com|August 27, 2008
The state Commission on Climate Change is urging comprehensive action to reduce air pollution, get ready for a warming climate and prepare for rising water along Maryland's vulnerable coastline.
In a report to be released today, the panel urges Gov. Martin O'Malley to seek legislative and policy changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland by 10 percent by 2012, and 90 percent by 2050.
The report's 42 recommendations include tighter restrictions on coastline development, new standards for power generation, and stricter building codes and land-use planning.
"The exciting part of the commission's work here is that this is very doable," said Maryland Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson, who chaired the panel. "For the first time, it quantifies the emissions-reductions benefits of a variety of options and lays out a road map we can take, whether as an individual consumer or as a state government."
An administration-backed bill that would have committed the state to the 90 percent cut in emissions failed this year in Annapolis. Manufacturers and labor unions warned that it could drive industry from Maryland and cost jobs.
The commission said climate-related legislation that did pass is expected to get the state more than halfway to the 2020 goal of a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels. Adoption of its plan, the panel said, could "easily" achieve that 25 percent cut.
O'Malley, in a statement from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, thanked the commission but did not offer any immediate agenda for implementing its recommendations.
"I look forward to carefully reviewing the report, and working with all stakeholders to develop both short- and long-term strategies to address climate change," he said.
Brad Heavner, state director of Environment Maryland, who served on a commission working group, called the recommendations "a good plan for taking us to the future."
The report shows "that aggressive pollution targets are possible and good for the state, not only environmentally, but economically," he said. "We can get it done this year."
Critics said that proposals to cut carbon emissions don't point out the costs of reaching those goals, and could have painful economic consequences for Maryland manufacturers and labor.
