Alliance For Global Warming Solutions

A Climate Action Plan

Maryland should be ahead of the curve on action to reduce global warming pollution. Firming up our plan now will encourage others to do the same and will position the state well in the new energy economy.

State officials should commit to science-based reductions of greenhouse gas emissions—reductions of 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Governor Martin O’Malley should direct the Maryland Commission on Climate Change to focus on getting the right programs into place as soon as possible to meet those reductions.

Fourteen other states have made commitments on greenhouse gas reductions. Maryland should be a leader by matching the best of those commitments and encouraging other states to follow.

How you can Help

In 2006, the Healthy Air Coalition was successful in passing the Healthy Air Act, which now stands as the nation’s toughest law to reduce pollution from power plants. The coalition stayed together in 2007 and won the Clean Cars Act, joining 11 other states in adopting stricter vehicle emission standards.

These victories were made possible by a network of individuals and organizations that worked together to advocate for solutions. Now we are calling for an even bigger policy, and need more people to get involved if we are going to win.

Speak Out: Call the governor: 410.974.3901

Let him know you want him to commit to science-based reductions in global warming pollution.

Get Involved: Join the Alliance. Check out the websites of the groups who support us. Get your friends involved!

Major impacts from Global Warming

The coast of the Chesapeake Bay is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise, given its 3,100 miles of low, tidal shoreline. The problem in Maryland is exacerbated by the gradual sinking of land due to geological forces.

Sea level has already begun to inch upward, and scientists predict another two feet of sea level rise in the next century. This will further flood important places like the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Increased storm activity will also result from global warming. We all remember the devastating impacts of Hurricane Isabel. If storms similar to that were to occur more frequently, it would do immense damage to the state’s economy.

Other impacts of global warming include reduced crop yields, worsened health impacts of air pollution, deadly heat waves, and ecosystem shifts.

Strong Action is needed in Every State

The federal government is not taking action on this issue, but America is acting nonetheless. State by state governors and legislatures are making commitments to real reductions.

Taken together, this action is putting a big dent in global warming pollution and will stimulate federal policy and international treaties.

Science Based Reductions

Scientists predict that we will need to reduce emissions of global warming pollution by 20 percent over the next 15 years and at least 80 percent by 2050 if we are going to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

Maryland must commit to making the reductions called for by the world’s leading scientists. Policy makers and business leaders can then design programs that achieve the reductions in the most cost-effective way.

We already know the Solutions

Fortunately, we know what steps are needed to significantly reduce global warming pollution. The most important decision is to put them into place without delay.

Over the next 15 years we can deploy the cleaner technologies that we already have but are not using much. This gives us time to develop and implement more advanced technologies after 2020.

Steps to meet 2020 goals:

• Modernize appliances and machinery to use less energy.

• Increase renewable energy use from solar, wind, and biofuel.

• Set standards for efficient green buildings.

• Upgrade power plants so they waste less energy.

PARTNERS

1000 Friends of Maryland

1Sky Campaign

Alliance for Sustainable Communities

Alta Plana Corporation

Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Center

American Plant

An Ounce of Prevention

Anacostia Watershed Society

Annapolis Bookstore

Audubon Naturalist Society

Baltimore Climate Action Network

Baltimore Green Forum

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network

Benjamin Miller, MD

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Environmental Club

Brennan & Company Architects

Broadneck High School Environmental Club

Browdy and Neimark PLLC

Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics

University of Maryland Baltimore Campus County Climate Intitiative

Cecil County Medical Society

Cedar Heights Civic Association

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church

Cedar Lane Universalist Church Environmental Task Force

Center for a New American Dream

Washington College Center for Environment & Society

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility

Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance (CSBA)

Citizens for a Green Mount Airy

Clean Currents, LLC

Clean Water Action

Climate Change Initiative of Howard County

Coalition for Smarter Growth

Committee on the Environment of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

Community & Environmental Defense Services

Community Ministries of Prince George's County

Conservation Engineering

Design One

The Dogwood

Earth Alley

Earth Party/ICRSE

Environment Maryland

Environmental Integrity Project

eProcess Solutions

Faith Community United Methodist Church

Fire Horse Acupuncture

Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek

Generations for Peace and Democracy

Global Warming Action Alliance

Goucher College Environmental Group

Greater Annapolis Climate Action Network

Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light

Green Sanctuary Committee of the Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Green Sanctuary Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis

Greenbelt Climate Action Network (GCAN)

Home Energy Loss Professionals

Hopkins Energy Action Team HEAT (JHU)

Joseph Adams, MD

Katcef Associates

League of Women Voters

Lutheran Office on Public Policy

Maryland Art Materials

Maryland Conservation Council

Maryland Green Party

Maryland Interfaith Coalition for the Environment

Maryland League of Conservation Voters

Maryland PIRG

Maryland Sierra Club

Maryland Student Climate Coalition

Maryland United for Peace and Justice

MC Green - Montgomery College

Minás

Molly Perkins Hauck, Ph.D., Psychologist

Montgomery Countryside Assistance

Montgomery County Student Environmental Activists (MCSEA)

N F W Enterprises, Inc

Network of Spiritual Progressives in Maryland

One Straw Farm

Oxon Hill High School Sierra Student Coalition

Phoenix International Inc.

Plans and Solutions,Inc.

Potomac River Association

Progressive Cheverly

Progressive Neighbors

Revolution Construction Services

Richard Hill Engineering

River Road Unitarian Universalist Church Environmental Task Force

Frostburg State University Sierra Student Coalition

SMEI (Simplicity Matters Earth Institute)

Solaleya

S-R-J Capital, LLC

St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church Environmental Stewardship Committee

St. Mary's College of Maryland Student Environmental Action Coalition

Standard Solar

University of Baltimore - Student Climate Coalition

Salisbury University - Student Environmental Association

St. John's College - Students for a Sustainable Future

Sun Day Campaign

TerraLogos Green Home Services

The Quixote Center

Thunder Hill Park Alliance

Towson Energy Activists - Towson University

U MD Students for Clean Energy - University of Maryland College Park

Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring's Global Warming Study/Action Group

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry for Maryland

University of Maryland School of Nursing Environmental Health Education Center

W. L. Gore & Associates

Weil, Akman, Baylin & Coleman

West Wind Farm

Yelton Construction Co., LLC

The Zipin Law Firm, LLC

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