I usually get to be pretty positive when blogging about how things are going with the MD Global Warming Solutions Act – after all, Governor O’Malley did recently publicly express his support for the bill, going so far as to ask Marylanders to rally with him to show the widespread support the bill has.
Then, I got to go to a hearing last Friday, and listen to certain members of the Environmental Matters Committee and the Economic Matters Committee (who shall remain unnamed) ask questions about global cooling, sunspots, and the possibility that global warming is really caused by a higher population of people breathing (yes, breathing).
Three hundred of you showed up to rally with Gov. O’Malley on March 5th and, as the governor said as he addressed the cheering crowd, it was truly amazing to see so many of you join together on a Wednesday morning to rally for global warming solutions! The General Assembly is sure to have heard our call: Take Action on Global Warming this Year!
Maryland students just keep getting more awesome (since I don’t normally get to work with them, I think I’m justified in being super-excited). After pounding the pavement for months to get support for the USM schools to go carbon neutral, they’re stepping up to the plate to help pass state legislation. Continue reading
“The climate crisis is real, and we must act now to reduce global climate change. I believe if we act responsibly we can help reduce the effects of global warming, but also create thousands of green jobs for Maryland’s economy.”
— Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, February 19, 2008
In a dramatic press conference Tuesday, Governor Martin O’Malley threw his “strong, strong support” behind one of America’s strongest global warming bills. It was a truly historic day, and when leaders do the right thing we should show our appreciation.Please, please click here to thank to Gov. O’Malley right now.Continue reading
Huge news for Marylanders today: Governor Martin O’Malley is going to announce his support for the Global Warming Solutions Act! Check out the AP and Sun articles about it. Last year, O’Malley’s support meant that the Clean Cars bill passed. This year, it means that the pressure on Sen. Miller and Del. Busch is building, and might help push them off the fence in favor of the Global Warming Solutions Act.
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 (SB-309, HB-712), which is in Senate hearings TODAY, would require Maryland to reduce its global warming pollution 25% by 2020 and 90% by 2050 as cost-effectively as possible, as recommended by the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. These targets, based on what scientists recommend is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming, would be the strongest in the nation. Read more about the bill>>
There’s still strong opposition to the bill, largely from interests that FALSELY think that the bill would lose jobs for the economy. “It’s not going to be at all positive for the economy, but this legislature and this administration [don’t] care,” says Republican Sen. David R. Brinkley, the Senate minority leader from Frederick County. “They are more interested in making political statements about saving the Earth than saving Maryland jobs.”
Instead of relying on Senator Brinkley for information on how this bill will affect jobs in Maryland, I like to rely on business leaders. Leaders like Rex Wright, of Johnson Controls, Inc. Rex is the Installation Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Johnson Controls specializes in building efficiency and Rex will testify before the Senate Committee on Education Health and the Environment today. Here’s a snippet of what’ he’ll have to say:
“Sustainability initiatives create jobs,” stated Rex Wright of Johnson Controls, Inc., a business specializing in building efficiency. “The soon to be completed energy efficiency initiatives between Johnson Controls, Inc. and Baltimore City Public Schools, for example, created over 200 jobs, over 50 of which were created for minority and women -owned businesses. Sustainability works; it creates jobs.”
On Thursday, January 17th, hundreds of activists gathered in Annapolis chanting and waving banners in support of the Maryland Global Warming Solutions Act. Below is a short 2-minute video from the rally.
Yesterday morning, in the middle of a snowstorm, hundreds of activists gathered in Annapolis, chanting and waving banners in support of the Maryland Global Warming Solutions Act. As one of the folks who has spent the past few months organizing it and getting people to come out, it was such an amazing experience to see all of these committed activists in one place, calling for the passage of this landmark legislation.
WBAL was one of the many media sources there, and included a great video:
You may be wondering, “Now that we’ve had this awesome rally with all sorts of buzz around it, what are the next steps? What can I do to make sure that this momentum keeps going?”
First of all, write a letter to your newspaper. Were you at the rally? Tell your local paper your story – why are Global Warming Solutions so important to you as a citizen of Maryland that you braved wintry weather to show your support? Weren’t able to make it? No worries! You can still write a letter to the editor showing support for the Global Warming Soluitons Act, and calling on your elected officials to support this legislation.
Which brings me to next step #2: write a letter to Mike Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, calling on him to support the Global Warming Solutions Act.
And if you’re *really* excited about everything that’s happening, put the next Annapolis convergence on your calendar: Monday, February 18th is Environmental Action Day. Learn about environmental issues (include the Global Warming Solutions Act, the energy efficiency bill, and critical areas), get trained on lobbying, and then go talk to your legislators!
In my seven years as a full-time climate activist in this region I’ve never been more inspired than at the snowy “Flood Annapolis” rally on Thursday, January 17th. At least 350 people from age two to 82 came from all over Maryland to gather on a weekday morning in a heavy snowstorm! You KNOW there’s deep, deep concern about an issue when that happens. What other grassroots issue in Maryland
