Shockingly, Maryland has fallen far behind neighboring states on climate policy in recent years. At the same time, climate impacts have worsened all around us.
But Maryland legislators can catch up this year with passage of a suite of bills known as the “Climate Solutions 2022” legislative agenda. This agenda includes the “Climate Solutions Now Act” in the Senate and the “Comprehensive Climate Solutions Act” in the House.
Together, these bills would mandate a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions statewide by no later than 2032, in line with scientific recommendations. We'd see greater building energy performance standards for public and private buildings. Additionally, the bills put environmental justice at their core and prioritize maximizing benefits in disadvantaged communities hit hardest by the climate crisis.
The Climate Solutions Now Act has been introduced in the Senate as SB 528 by Senator Paul Pinsky with 26 co-sponsors. A package of House bills has been introduced covering substantially the same policies, led by the “Comprehensive Climate Solutions Act” (HB 708) sponsored by Delegates Kumar Barve and Dana Stein. The House climate agenda also includes Delegate David Fraser-Hildalgo’s HB 696 to begin electrifying state school buses and HB 94 to electrify state government vehicles.
Please send a note to your representatives in the Maryland General Assembly telling them to support the “Climate Solutions 2022” legislative agenda.
