I support establishing a scientifically determined net-zero emissions mandate for the state of Maryland. Global experts say it’s time for countries to declare a climate emergency. Maryland is one of the most vulnerable states in the nation to the effects of global warming, with flooding and record-breaking heat already a regular occurrence. We need to protect our most vulnerable communities while embracing the new green economy. For these reasons, I support the Climate Solutions Now campaign, which seeks to ensure a more equitable and safe future for all by:

Increasing Maryland’s greenhouse gas reduction mandate to 60% by 2030 and net zero by 2045

Charging the Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities with determining what percentage of Maryland’s climate funding must be spent in overburdened, underserved communities

Creating a Worker Transition work group that will convene leaders in labor, industry, and policy makers to make recommendations to protect fossil fuel workers

Planting 5 million trees, including 500,000 trees in underserved, urban communities

Increasing our annual energy efficiency gains from 2% a year to 3% a year

Improving air quality monitoring at landfills

Requiring new State buildings to be net neutral and require efficiency gains in large residential and commercial buildings

Purchasing new electric vehicles as the Maryland fleet turns over

Prohibiting highway widening and unproven carbon capture and storage technology as emissions reduction pathways in our state climate planning

Requiring accurate accounting of methane impacts and the use of best available scientific information in our climate plans