Southern Maryland News reports that “On Wednesday, August 8th, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosted the first meeting of the Maryland Climate Change Commission’s Adaptation & Response Working Group (ARWG). ” The executive order to create this Commission was signed by O’Malley back on April 20, 2007. The Commission is to develop a Maryland Climate Action Plan. The Commission also has three working groups: the Scientific and Technical Working Group, the Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Mitigation Working Group, and the Adaptation and Response Working Group.

Notice the word “Adaptation” coming up over and over again now.

The Adaptation and Response working group is chaired by DNR Secretary John R. Griffin, who says that, “If left unchecked, rising temperatures will cause devastating impacts to Maryland’s people, natural resources, and property.” This poor group is assigned the task of cleaning the Augean Stables. I mean they are supposed to “recommend strategies for reducing the vulnerability of the State’s coastal, natural, and cultural resources and communities to the impacts of climate change; and develop a comprehensive strategy for reducing Maryland’s climate change vulnerability”

The Scientific and Technical Working Group met on August 7, and is it chaired by Don Boesch (USM), Bob Summers (MDE), and Frank Dawson (DNR). Their job is to prepare the Comprehensive Climate Change Impact Assessment, which includes the following:

• Advise the Commission, as well as other working groups, on the scientific and technical aspects of climate change;
• Inventory Maryland’s greenhouse gas emission sources and sinks;
• Calculate Maryland’s “carbon footprint” to measure the impact of human activities on
  the environment based on the State’s greenhouse gas production;
• Investigate climate change dynamics, including current and future climate models
  and forecasts; and
• Evaluate the likely consequences of climate change to Maryland’s agricultural industry,
  forestry resources, freshwater supply, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and human health.

I have seen quite a bit of research to this effect, much of which has been produced by Don Boesch, so I have a feeling that these guys are off to a quick start. The group will be looking for the following types of impacts:

• Coastal zone
• Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
• Water resources
• Agriculture, forestry, fisheries
• Human health

I don’t have anything to report yet on the Greenhouse Gas & Carbon Mitigation Working Group except to say that the members were appointed on July 26 and that MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson is chair. These guys get to push a boulder up the side of a hill every day. Or something equally fun. (P.S. I think you should talk to Eric Carlson of Carbonfund and Tom Arnold of TerraPass because this is what they do.)

It’s great to see progress. Now hurry!