The report is the first of four to be released this fall from a survey of over 2,000 Maryland citizens conducted this spring by George Mason University in conjunction with the Climate Communication Consortium of Maryland. The current report focuses on sea-level rise and its impacts on Maryland, perceived threats to local resources, and preferred policies to protect communities at the state, county and local levels.
“Marylanders clearly understand that extreme temperatures and more severe storms are likely results of climate change that will occur in their communities in the next decade or two,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “These survey results confirm that our citizens believe we are on the right track and support our investment in reducing Maryland’s vulnerability to climate change and our efforts to pass important legislation like this year’s Bay Acidification and Coast Smart Council bills.”
Signed in May of 2014, the Coast Smart Council Bill (House Bill 615) ensures Maryland follows standards to make safe and fiscally-wise investments when building or updating State agency structures located in vulnerable coastal areas. It directs that all new and reconstructed State buildings be planned and built to avoid or minimize future flood damage, and creates the Council to oversee these infrastructure projects.
Also signed in May, the Bay Acidification Bill (House Bill 118) creates a Task Force to evaluate and address the effects of changing chemistry in the Chesapeake Bay and other Maryland waterways. In January 2015, the group will present their recommendations to policymakers based on their findings for monitoring and addressing acidification, and its effects on Maryland’s commercial fishery and aquaculture industry.
“Many people in Maryland aren’t sure if sea-level rise is happening, or if it is human-caused, which suggests the need for more education about how climate change will affect our families and communities,” said Karen Akerlof, the lead investigator at George Mason University. “Regardless, most citizens support proposed actions to protect the State against sea-level rise and other climate change impacts.”
Funded by the Town Creek Foundation, the survey was mailed to 6,401 households across the State in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The survey was fielded from March 17 to June 10, 2014 with a response rate of 35 percent. The survey was developed, and results were analyzed, by researchers with the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. Follow-up reports will highlight Marylanders’ attitudes, behaviors and policy preferences on public health and climate change, energy, and climate change in general. The full survey report, is availablehere.
Under the leadership of the O’Malley-Brown administration, Maryland has been at the forefront of national efforts to both address greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the State and its communities for the impacts of climate change. To assist local governments in responding to sea-level rise, Governor O’Malley launched Maryland’s Coast Smart Communities program in April 2009, which provides on-the-ground sea level rise planning expertise, training and technical mapping tools. The program has awarded more than $600,000 to coastal communities to help prepare for the anticipated impacts of climate change.
Governor O’Malley’s leadership on this and other efforts, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, the Climate Change and Coast Smart Construction Executive Order and landmark no-net loss of forest legislation, earned him the League of Conservation Voters Climate ChangeVision Awardlast year.
Currently, Governor O’Malley is serving as a member of President Obama’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, charged with advising the President on how federal agencies can best help states and communities understand, prepare for, and reduce the impacts of climate change. Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland has engaged in nation-leading efforts.
23 comments:
I don't believe this crap.
No kidding, Climate Change is real and has been accelerating at a rate never before seen on this planet.
As long as everyone else gets to pay for it.
What do you expect from a state that has elected O'malley and Obama twice?
73% of what ? people who live on the coast ?screw them should not be living there anyway...pole ice growing not srinking..
when I own water front property I will worry about this stuff....NEVER
Must have done this survey at a democrat fundraiser.
More Democratic bullship. Just like Al Gore invented the internet. There are deserts that were once under water and cities that are under the ocean that were once on land. Bunch of stupid liberal nonsense. As of today, Antarctica has 30% more ice cover than we've ever recorded.
If I buy a beach house I expect you tax payers to support my idiotic decision.
The ice caps are back and then some and the world didn't end.
Maryland is liberal state. Those results aren't shocking considering who they are polling.
Look, if Al gore invented the internet, then surely he can control the ice caps! Just get him to control the idiocy!
It's really hard to read this idiocy sometimes!
Survey, my A. Just more "made up" lies to push somebody's agenda..
Jesus you people are the most ignorant cretins I've ever met. And it's worse because you'll be dead by the time half of OC (if we're lucky) is underwater anyway, so why should you care?
Eating Fisher's caramel popcorn wards off global warming. Honest!
As a council member in a local town I can assure you that not one single citizen has ever asked me to try to do something about global warming, climate change or whatever it is currently called. All this climate change b.s. is about money and nothing else!
Do tell...is the climate actually changing? Come now; you don't really believe this do you?
Of course the climate is changing you idiot. It's been changing since the beginning of time. SO WHAT.
Anyone who lives near water can expect water levels to change or just simply flood or dry up. DUH...
What does it take to get the "church of climate change" to see this. It's simply common sense and you can't seem to REASON. so sad.
This is ridiculous. There is NO global warming. This is just another lie to squeeze more money from tax payers. 73%? Obviously this nonsense poll was taken from registered Democrats. Maryland liberals and its tax-crazy-spending liberal Governor has destroyed this State (like Obama has destroyed our entire Country). I've lived in Maryland for 64 years (my entire life) and I'm sickened by what I've seen happen to it (by liberals). I wish I were able to move away from here. Please people, vote conservative!
Let's say this is so, 73% of Marylanders want state and local gov'ts to do something about climate change. I don't believe it's true but, let's assume it is for argument's sake.
WTF are they going to do about it?
Build a windfarm off our Atlantic coast or in the Chesapeake Bay proper? Spray the atmosphere with chemicals in contrails? Tax the rain? Turn off Calvert Cliffs?
90% of the bills before the state legislature dealing with environmental issues have nothing what~so~ever to do with climate change and everything to do with raising taxes/fees. From increasing the 75¢ per barrel fee for oil passing through MD to doubling fines for EPA citation non-payment. Absolutely nothing to do with fixing or protecting anything.
our tax dollars paid to produce this propaganda
First of all, the majority of Marylanders are Democrats.
Secondly, there were tree stumps, large tree stumps, found off the coast of Alabama last summer in 60 feet of water.
Third, there are fossils of sea life in the Rocky Mountains.
Fourth, there was once an Ice Age, and it happened right here in Maryland, as well as some neighboring states and continents!
All before man began burning the first drop of oil.
I rest my case.
B.S. !
Good one 7:30 AM....
Post a Comment