he reporrs and ev idence are all around us; desc ri bing Address ing rhese issucs wi ll require action by government, the changes in our pl anet, our way of life and rhe busi nesses, and in dividuals. In allllosr every case, ie's good for h..lturc that awaits us should we f~i l to undcrsta nd that tilt: cOllllllunity's quali ty of lif'c.: and good fo r rhe loct! cconomy. the thin band of protecrion cal led rhe aUllos phere is Outlined o n the next several pagcs arc sreps to movc evcn 1110re changing. No other iss ue threatens our planer with boldly fo rw ard co mitigate the greenhouse gases emiss ions such dramatic, far~reachi n g impacrs. and no other rhar ca use global warming and adapr to the anticipated fucure iss ue is so dearl), a worldwide problem. Ar rhe same conditions caused by cl imate change. time, many of the most promising solurions co global wa rming are local iniriatives providing dear opportuni ties for Mitig ation are those acrions dur serve co reduce greenhouse ACTION that demonstrate we ca n C H ANGE THE FUTURE. gas emiss ions in order to slow down the rarc of global wa rming. Local mitigation poli cies should bc comprehensive, rargering Planning is already under way to reduce gree nhouse gas emissions a range of local responsibili rics and oppo rtunities. Each, when in Maryland. Local govcrl1menrs are beginning to emerge as combined with orher uniquely local initiatives, will defi ne ea rly leaders in combating global warming. ~ nl CSC new efForts represent leadership o n these issues. important steps forward and help make cl ea r that all local governments-and all citizens-have a res ponsibilit), to address Bui ld on existing policies and programs that res ult in a global climate change. red uction of greenhouse gas emissions from government 1 managed f ac ilities and the jurisdictional contribution of TIle sc ientific consensus expects substantial changes nor only greenhouse gas emiss ions from its citizens. in temperature bur also in rai nfall patterns, warcr supply, snow levels, Bay healrh, local air quali ty, and se a level. 111 cse changes In ventory global warming greenhouse gas emissions are nor in the disrant future, bur arc in ev idence now: CO~ has from city operations and create an action plan to achieve risen by 37% and the Bay is 2 degrees wa rmer over rhe las; few 2 reductions. decades.

Ap ,i12010 13 Id entify best practices to support reducing overall promote tree planting on private lands, to in crease shad­ 3 local government energy use and set goals for their ing, energy sav in gs and to improve air quality, in co rporat­ achi evement. ing current Maryland stat e "plant a tree" in centives.

Manage t he operation and procurement of fleet vehicles Adopt, refine and follow land use guidelines that 4 under the co ntrol of the city t o track and ac h ieve annual 10 reduce sprawl, preserve open space and create a cooler, mileage per veh icle type improvements. compact and walkable community.

Establish a municipal goa l of 10% renewable energy Cond uct public ou treach through the city websit e, and 5 purchase by 2011 and 20% by 2015 in cooperation with 11 through staff and ci tizen committees to educate the other local governments. public, schools and loca l businesses about the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emiss ions. Use outreach Practice and promote susta in able building practices tools to encourage the purchase of more efficient and 6 using the U. S. Green Bui ld ing Council 's program alternative fueled veh icles, and to encou rage energy t o ensure all new city faci lities meet ''LEED Silver" or audits and retrofits for individuals and bu sinesses higher standards and make energy effici ency a priority through regional cooperative efforts. in all site plan review. Prepa re an annual Governing Gree n Report card to the Promote transportation options such as bicycle/ 12 community documenting progress towards red ucing 7 pedestrian t rails, co mmuter trip reduction programs, the city's carbon footprint. and incentives for ca r pooling and public transit. Encourage ex isting and develop new programs Local planning fo r climate change and sea level rise is to enhance use of public transit and alte rn ative chaUe nging. There an: many potential impacts and no transportation modes, commuter connections, single remedy. C limate change and sea level ri se are both guaranteed ride home, telework programs, park and gradual processes occurring slowly over time. However ride lots and bike progra ms. local governments Illust take specific action now to prepare for inevitable impacts. Adaption are the steps that local Promote increased citizen and bu siness participation governments can take to ensure that the impacts will be 8 in all areas of recycling, increasing the rate of recycl ing minimized, and public hea lth, the local economy and the waste as a perce ntage of total wast e at a rate of at least environment will be protected. 2% per ca lendar yea r, for the next five years. Climate Science: Conduct a water and land Maintain a healthy urban forest and street tree 1 reso urces climate change impact ana lysis of 9 popu lation t hrough the adoption of a your community (e.g. grou ndwater resources , community canopy goal and community precipitation patterns, etc). Build awareness greening ord inance for conserva­ of climate change impacts and adaptation t ion, restoration, maintenan ce measures (e.g., create a climate change and expansion of the canopy. outreach database; invest in Consider and adopt incen- education/outreach, etc.). tives within one year of goa l adoption to

14 Municipal Maryland Public Health, Safety & Emergency Preparedness: Financial & Economic Impacts: Examine climate 2 Collaborate in resea rch and share information with 5 change impacts on key busi nesses and local industries for the public health community, in areas such as thermal the area including government, forestry and agriculture. stress, infectious disease, food quality and supply, and social justice issues. Update emergency and hazard Biodiversity & Ecosystems: Collaborate with climate mitigation plans and activities to address projected 6 impact organizations and natural resource agencies changes. to support the re silience of green space, native species, habitats, and biodiversity against climate change Surface Water Management, Freshwater Quality impacts. Evaluate the need for additional biodiversity 3 & Water Supply: Conduct technical ana lysis of projected monitoring. impacts to stream flows to large rivers and tributaries. Incorporate climate change impacts into water supply

planning processes and wastewater treatment investment "\X' c need to move [0 that point where the Chesapeake Bay plans. becomes not a poster child for decline and pollution, but actuall y a model for what ca n be done when a free and diverse Land Use, Buildings and Transportation: Review people choose to seize their own future and make a better 4 all local and county plans, policies and investments for way ... And it's up to all of us. In your cities and in your [Owns, consideration or inclusion of climate change impacts YOll are so close to the peo ple we serve. YOLI have the ability to (e.g., Regiona l Hazard Mitigation Plan, Shoreline Master do the things that matter, to show that we can actuall y employ Plan, River and Floodplain Management Program, these new technologies and protect the Bay fro m water transportation infrastructure plans, etc). Numerous run-off, to reduce electricity. to tap new, renewable sources of actions should be included to address flooding and sea energy...... " Governor .Manin O'Malley, 2009 level rise projections .

• :::c:::. April 20.10 15 \

Resources Maryland Governo r .Martin O'Mall ey es tabli shed the Maryland Climate Change Commission (MCCC) charged Glo ing with coll ectively dcvclop ing an action plan to address rhccall ses of • cl imate change. prepare for the li kely consequences and impacts of climate change to Maryland, and es tablish benchmarks fo r im plementing [he Commiss io n's recommendatio ns. Maryland's resources to se rve as a o nc.>stop shop fo r those seeking informatio n sci entific and techn ical assessment of climate change impacts, and resources related to climate change and clcan energy. its mirigari on strategy to reduce gree nhouse gas emiss ions and recommended strategies fo r adapting to sea level ri se and Become a Leader increased storm can be fo und on the C limate C hange As YO ll consid er action on these iss ues consul t examples in Ac ri on Pia n homcpage http://www.mdclimarcchallgcol1s/ . Annapo li s, Bowie. Rockville. Gaithersburg, Frederick, Edmonston and other Maryland communities. Call on staR:at DNR's O ffi ce International Council for Local Environmental In itia­ for Sustain able Future, MDE and MEA and other state agencies tives (ICLEI) - ICLEI's C ities fo r C limate Prorection (CCP) fo r fin ancial help and reques t ass istance fro m the nonprofit Cam pa ign ass ists cities in adopting poli Cies and implementing community such as the Center fo r C hes apeake Communities quantifi able: measures to reduce local green house gas emission, fo r policy. program and technical ass istance. Your commun ity improve air qual ity, and enhance urban li vability and sustain· call become a leader in plann ing and preparati on. In face, local abili ty. government leadership is imperative if we arc to combat and adapt to climate change impacts already in evidence . • EPA Web Site to help state and local government understand. pla n, and implement strategies to reduce gree nhouse gas For more injonlJation contact Gm)' Allen at the Center jor emissions. ll1e Start: and Local C limate and Energy Program Chesapeake Communities, 192 D uke qf. Gloucester Stnet, \'V'eb site. www.cpa.gov/ statclocaldimacc. b ri ngs together EPA Annapoli5, MD 21401,410/267-8595, [email protected].