Scientific and Technical Working Group
Maryland Commission on Climate Change

NOTE: The Working Groups's report Comprehensive Assessment of Climate Change Impacts in Maryland has been completed but awaits release sometime in August with the full Plan of Action from the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. Sorry for the delay. Please check back.

INTERNAL WORKING SITE (STWG Members only)

Governor O'Malley's Executive Order establishing the Commission on Climate Change.

Website of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change.

Task of Scientific and Technical Working Group (STWG)

Develop a Comprehensive Climate Change Impact Assessment:

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

Working Group

List of members and contact information (pdf)

Co-Chairs

Donald F. Boesch, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Robert Summers, Maryland Department of the Environment
Frank Dawson, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Subgroups

• Climate Trends and Models
• Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms
• Hydrology and Water Resources
• Forests and Agricultural Ecosystems and Resources
• Coastal Ecosystems and Resources
• Human Health and Urban Environments

Meetings

Presentations

First meeting of Commission on Climate Change Overview of Climate Change in Maryland (pdf, 2.2 mb)
Second meeting of Commission on Climate Change STWG Plan (pdf, 413 kb)
Third meeting of Commission on Climate Change STWG Update (pdf, 469 kb)
Adaptation and Response Working Group STWG Overview (pdf, 1.2 mb)
Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Mitigation Working Group Consultation on Emissions Goals (pdf, 1.3 mb)
Fourth meeting of the Commission on Climate Change Climate Change Consultation of Emission Goals (pdf, 785 kb)
University System of Maryland October 11, 2007 Environmental Sustainability Workshop Overview of MCCC (pdf, 486 mb)
Greater Washington Council of Governments Regional Assessment of Climate Change Impacts (pdf, 1.2 mb)
Fifth meeting of the Commission on Climate Change Consultation on Carbon Sequestration and Interim Report (pdf, 973 kb)
Sixth meeting of the Commission on Climate Change Status Report (pdf, 962 kb)
Presentation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission, May 9, 2008 Climate Change Impacts Assessment Overview (pdf, 1.4 mb)
Presentation to the Washington Council of Goverments, July 25, 2008 Climate Change Challenges and Opportunities in the Chesapeake Bay (pdf, 1.6 mb)
Presentation to the Washington Board of Trade, July 28, 2008 Global Warming and the Free State (pdf, 1.4 mb)

Testimony

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, September 26 hearing on impacts of climate change on the Chesapeake Bay, testimony and follow-up op ed in the Baltimore Sun by Donald F. Boesch

U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, November 14 hearing on improving the federal climate change research and information program, testimony by Donald F. Boesch

Maryland Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, February 19, 2008, testimony on SB 309 Global Warming Solutions Act

Maryland House of Delegates, Environmental Matters Committee, February 29, 2008, testimony on HB 719 Global Warming Solutions Act; Responses to quesions about global climate change

Resources

IPCC

The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) has released summaries for policymakers from its working groups and the full reports from all three of its working groups: WG I and WG II are particularly relevant to the objectives of the Scientific and Technical Working Group.

Regional Assessments

The Union of Concerned Scientists have released two powerful reports on the impacts of climate change on the Northeastern US (through Pennsylvania) that can serve as models for the Maryland Commission on Climate Change's assessments, an October 2006 report on model results and a July 2007 report more fully addressing impacts and solutions. In addition, the project website provides links to the many supporting papers that are in press in journals.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Assessment of the U.S. National Assessment of Climate Variability and Change

Chesapeake Bay Foundation report Climate Change and the Chesapeake Bay

National Wildlife Federation Report Chesapeake Bay and Global Warming

Chesapeake Bay Program's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee draft report Climate Change Research and the Chesapeake Bay

Environment Maryland: A Blueprint for Action: Policy Options to Reduce Maryland's Contribution to Global Warming

U.S. Climate Change Science Program

Synthesis and Assessment Products

The following Synthesis and Assessment Products that are relevant to Maryland's Comprehensive Climate Change Impact Assessment are available as competed reports or public review drafts:
1.1 Temperature trends in the lower atmosphere: steps for understanding and reconciling differences (report)
2.2 North American carbon budget and implications for the global carbon cycle (report)
3.1 Climate models: an assessment of strengths and limitations (draft)
3.3 Weather and climate extremes in a chaning climate (draft)
4.1 Coastal elevations and sensitivity to sea level rise: Mid-Atlantic (draft)
4.3 The effects of climate change on agriculture, biodiversity, land and water resources (report)
4.4 Preliminary review of adaption options for climate-sensitive ecosystems and resources (draft)
4.5 Effects of global change on energy production and use in the United States (report)
4.6 Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems (draft)
5.1 Uses and limitations of observations, data, forecasts, and other projections in decision support (daft)

Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Climate Change on the US

This national scientific assessment was released on May 29, 2008, in response to a court order and is an assembly of information from previous reports, including those of the IPCC.

Regional Climate Projections

Preliminary Chesapeake Bay region climate projections for A2 and B1 scenarios

Sea-Level Rise Trends and Projections

Rahmstorf (2007) paper and responses
Rohling et al (2007) rates of sea-level rise during interglacial
Meier et al.(2007) glaciers dominate 21st century sea-level rise
Mote et al. (2008)sea-level rise in Washington State
National Wildlife Federation sea-level rise in Chesapeake Bay

Other Resources

University of Maryland Center for Integrative Environmental Research report The US Economic Impacts of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction

Programs, practices and policies related to climate change are central elements of the University System of Maryland Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative .

Bali Declaration by Climate Scientists

Baltimore Sun article on MCCC Interim Report "Drastic action on warming"

Baltimore Sun editorial "No time to dawdle"

Bay Weekly editorial "Debunkers desist: climate is right for global warming solutions"

Baltimore Sun article on the "leaked" climate impact assessment "Climate report forecasts smaller, hotter Maryland"

Last updated August 14, 2008