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Maryland Department of the Environment

Md. Environment Sec. Grumbles to Attend U.N. Climate Change Conference in Germany

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jay Apperson

(410) 537-3003
jay.apperson@maryland.gov

Md. Environment Sec. Grumbles to Attend U.N. Climate Change Conference in Germany

Baltimore, MD (November 9, 2017) – The Maryland Department of Environment today announced that Secretary Ben Grumbles will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany. Secretary Grumbles will discuss Maryland’s work to fight climate change and gather insights into how other jurisdictions around the world are addressing challenges involving climate change, the environment, energy, and economic matters.

“Maryland is a leader in fighting climate change, and this is a great opportunity to share our approaches and learn from others,” Secretary Grumbles said. “The conference is also a chance to tell the world that Maryland is open for business on environmental, energy, and climate change solutions.”

The 2017 U.N. Climate Change Conference kicked off Monday and runs through Nov. 17. The conference’s stated aims include the fueling of momentum among cities, states, regions, and territories in support of climate action plans.

Secretary Grumbles, who is chairman of the independent, bipartisan Maryland Commission on Climate Change, is to participate in over a dozen presentations and meetings with government leaders, businesses and environmental, and scientific and academic organizations starting Saturday and ending next week.  He is expected to discuss the actions Maryland is taking to make the state a national leader in curbing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resiliency and preparedness throughout the state and region. When the federal administration withdrew from the Paris Climate Change Agreement earlier this year, the Hogan administration immediately stated its opposition and reaffirmed Maryland’s commitment to stringent clean air standards.

In 2015, in partnership with members of the Maryland General Assembly, Governor Larry Hogan signed legislation to strengthen and expand the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. The governor signed into law the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2016, which requires reductions of greenhouse gases in Maryland by 40 percent by 2030 – one of the most aggressive requirements in the country – while continuing to have a net positive effect on both the economy and job creation in Maryland. Governor Hogan also proposed and passed the Clean Cars Act of 2017 to boost the state’s efforts to encourage the use of electric vehicles.

Maryland is a member of the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). In August, Governor Hogan announced that Maryland and the eight other states in RGGI had agreed to reduce the program’s carbon pollution cap by 30 percent from 2020 to 2030, finding consensus for a stronger and sustainable program that will also grow Maryland’s economy through innovation and collaboration.  Maryland is also encouraging other states to join the bipartisan initiative and for regions around the world to learn about RGGI’s impressive track record and new tools for clean energy progress.

Secretary Grumbles is expected to be one of 10 American state officials to attend meetings and briefings at the conference.

 

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