Climate Disruption is No Trick or Treat: The Frightening Consequences of Inaction for Maryland

Annapolis City Dock at King Tide - see below for photo source. (i)

As the environmental community prepares for this weekend’s release of the final piece of the 5^th Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), many people will be focusing on the big international agreements needed to address our climate crisis. And while I could spend hours and hours digging into the importance of international agreements on climate change, I often find myself asking the questions of “What is happening in my own backyard? What can I do right here, right now to show my community is ready and willing to tackle this challenge?”

Maryland is increasingly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Sea level rise can often feel like an issue for small island nations, but ask the residents of Maryland coastal towns about this problem. A Union of Concerned Scientists study published this month found that Ocean City currently experiences approximately 8 tidal-flooding events per year. That number is projected to be at 30 by 2030 and over 170 by 2045 (ii). Baltimore and Annapolis were recently listed numbers 1 and 2 in the country in terms of increased frequency of sea level rise-caused “nuisance” flooding – the frequency of these events have increased by over 900% for each city since the late 1950s (iii). In addition to flooding, sea level rise in Maryland will have a direct impact on Maryland jobs. Our own state’s climate impact study clearly stated that, among the multitude of economic impacts associated with climate disruption in Maryland, the 120,000 jobs directly and indirectly associated with the Port of Baltimore could be affected by climate change as shipping becomes more challenging due to an increased need for dredging and frequency of severe storms (iv).

Beyond coastal issues, the public health problems associated with climate disruption and our current fossil fuel plants are shocking. The Sierra Club has pointed out time and time again the poor air quality in our state; over 85% of Marylanders live where the air fails to meet minimum health standards identified by the EPA. This is unacceptable and contributes to the stark respiratory issues we have in our communities. Asthma mortality rates in Baltimore are more than double that of the rest of the state (v). These air quality and respiratory problems will become exacerbated as we see increased temperatures and extreme heat days in the summer, particularly those problems associated with smog, which is formed during the hot, sunny, summer days.

The consequences of climate disruption in Maryland are frightening (review this study for more details and examples). And while our national and international policies continue to come up short, there is opportunity to drive change in our own state. The Sierra Club is part of a broad and ever-increasing coalition fighting for our state leaders to pass a bill that would increase our renewable energy goal from 20% by 2020 to 40% by 2025.

By continuing to push away from dirty, greenhouse-gas emitting fossil fuels for electricity generation, this commitment would put Maryland on record as a champion for climate and energy issues in the country. We would see growth in clean energy resources like wind and solar, new jobs in a green economy, cleaner air, and a healthier environment for everyone. Would 40% by 2025 solve all of the climate-related problems we face? No. But who will lead if not a state and community that is particularly susceptible to climate disruption?

It is time for Maryland to once again show our nation that we are a leader on broad, challenging issues. I hope that you will join me in demanding a shift from business as usual, and will ask Maryland to lead on climate.

Sign our petition here and share with your friends via sc.org/mdcleanenergy. And of course, please indicate if you are interested in volunteering with us on this campaign. If you want to go out and start gathering physical signatures on a petition, download a copy of the petition here and print it at home. And be sure to send it back to us once you collect a completed sheet(s)! Our office address and my email address are included on the bottom of the petition, so please mail or scan and send your completed petitions.

I hope to see you at one of our events soon!

David