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According to NOAA data, since 1980, the U.S. has sustained 376 weather and climate disasters with a cumulative cost of $2.6 trillion. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Van Hollen introduces federal 'climate superfund' legislation

New federal legislation would make polluters pay for the costs of climate change mitigation. On Thursday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced …

The Baltimore Tree Trust has planted nearly 17,000 trees around the city since 2008. (Andrew Kazmierski / Adobe Stock)

Community works to combat Baltimore heat island

With Baltimore City seeing record heat this summer, local groups are working to combat the effect of the city's urban heat island. Where …

Baltimore Tree Trust ha plantado casi 17.000 �rboles en toda la ciudad desde 2008. (Andrew Kazmierski / Adobe Stock)

Comunidad trabaja para combatir la isla de calor de Baltimore

Dado que la ciudad de Baltimore experimentó un calor récord este verano, los esfuerzos locales para combatir el efecto de isla de calor …

Ellicott City flooding in 2016 and 2018 were both described as one-in-1,000-year flood events. (Cheryl Crumm/Adobe Stock)

Bill would require fossil fuel companies to help pay for climate impacts

Advocates are asking Maryland lawmakers to establish a superfund to help hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the costs of climate change…

Data from 2021 estimated only 3.5% of organic waste generated in Baltimore was diverted for composting. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates see composting as alternative to incineration of Baltimore’s food waste

The founder of the Baltimore Compost Collective wants Baltimore to ditch trash incineration, fight climate change and grow healthier food. Marvin …

New one- and two-family homes and townhouses would be required to have at least one EV-capable parking space. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)

'Better Buildings Act' would mandate electrification in new construction

With Maryland's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2045 on the horizon, the General Assembly is taking up the issue of building codes. During this …

Ground-source heat pumps can operate in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD grid can manage transition to electric heating

A recent study shows Maryland's electric grid is well positioned to manage the transition to electrification as outlined in the state's climate goals…

Washington, D.C., Public Service Commission data from last year showed 1,260 gas leaks in the District, 3% more than in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

DC Public Service Commission puts Project Pipes on hold

Advocates are applauding the Washington, D.C., Public Service Commission's decision to pause a Washington Gas infrastructure rebuild known as Project …

Global warming is impacted by atmospheric ammonia and nitrogen oxides, both from animal waste and fertilizers. (Adobe Stock)

NASA grant funds study on impact of farming techniques on greenhouse gases

NASA-funded research using satellites to study atmospheric nitrogen will examine how different farming approaches affect greenhouse gas emissions…

Current federal rebates for home heat pump HVAC installation total $8,000. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD must adopt air quality equipment standards to meet climate goals

A new report documenting the impact of fossil fuel-powered appliances on air quality makes the case that Maryland will need to take additional steps t…

Researchers will examine how the urban heat island and aerosols contribute to heavy precipitation events. (Adobe Stock)

Yearlong study to examine atmospheric conditions over Baltimore

A climate study focusing on the atmosphere above Baltimore is in the works for next year. A team of 23 investigators from 13 research institutions …

Measurements of electrical conductivity indicating elevated salinity is affecting the soil hundreds of meters from visible salt patches. (Rebecca Epanchin-Niell)

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Researchers have found the amount of land affected by saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula has dramatically increased in recent years…

The report anticipates improvements in air quality will result in up to 1000 fewer cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms. (Adobe Stock)

Report Estimates 16K New Jobs Possible via Climate Pathway

A new report provides a road map for how Maryland can achieve its climate goals, and officials want to hear from the public. Maryland's Climate …

In March, Gov. Wes Moore announced Maryland would adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II standard. <br />(Adobe Stock)

$900 Billion in Health Benefits Likely from EV, Green Energy Adoption

With air quality in the news of late, a new report found transitioning to electric vehicles would bring major public health benefits. The American …

Maryland maintains an air monitoring network of 24 sites through the state, measuring ground level concentrations of six common pollutants. (Jennifer J. Taylor/Adobe Stock)

Wildfire Smoke Produces Worst MD Air Quality in Decades

As smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts over the state, researchers from the University of Maryland are flying into the smoke plumes to measure …

Researchers found cities with the highest ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live based on the metrics of physical inactivity and mental health. (Adobe Stock)

ParkScore Rankings Name Washington D.C. Nation’s Best

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has published its annual ParkScore rankings, and some area cities are high on the list. Washington, D.C.…

Nationally, more than one in three Americans live in counties that had unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. (Adobe Stock)

State of the Air Report Shows Mixed Results for Air Quality in Maryland

A new report found a mix of good and bad findings for air quality in Maryland. The American Lung Association recently released its annual State of …

The Inflation Reduction Act extended the $7,500-per-vehicle tax credit through 2032. (Adobe Stock)

Could Churches be Prime Locations for EV Charging Stations?

By Amethyst Holmes for Religion News Service.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

A new EPA rule will limit inhalable particles with diameters of 10 micrometers and smaller. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Finalizing New Air Quality Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of finalizing a new rule to improve air quality in America. The proposal will lower the amount …

A new report states home repairs and electrification offer enormous local job growth opportunities. (Charles Taylor/Adobe Stock)

Study: MD Needs to Repair Thousands of Homes to Meet Climate Goals

A new report found Maryland will need to repair hundreds of thousands of homes occupied by low and middle-income people in order to meet its climate g…

Last year saw the certification of LEED projects pass 100,000 globally. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Maryland Improves on Green Building Ranking

Maryland ranks fifth in the nation on a new report on green building in the U.S. The U.S. Green Building Council released its annual rankings of …

Maryland to Build Automated Weather Station Network

The state of Maryland is building an automated network of weather stations to help with forecasting and emergency alerts. The state and the …

Green roofs can help address stormwater runoff concerns such as flooding. In recent years, hurricanes, tropical storms and increased heavy rainfall have hit Marylanders with extensive<br />flooding problems. (Adobe Stock)

MD Communities Win 'Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns' Grant

Communities in Maryland have been awarded portions of a $1 million grant to support infrastructure projects such as improving local waterway health an…

Urban heat islands are areas that can be up to 20 degrees hotter than nearby neighborhoods due to factors like buildings, pavement, and lack of tree cover that can amplify high temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

MD's Montgomery County Conducts Urban Heat-Mapping Project

Maryland's most populous county is embarking on an urban heat-mapping project to better understand neighborhood heat inequities, which can affect …

Maryland lawmakers recently passed the Climate Solutions Now Act. It commits the state to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 60% by 2031, expand clean energy use, and invest in underserved communities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Baltimore Lags Behind Cities in Solar-Power Installations

The amount of solar power installed in just nine U.S. cities exceeds the amount installed in the entire country 10 years ago, a new report finds…

A litter trap has been installed in the Lockridge Drive Tributary. In 2021, Anacostia Riverkeeper and volunteers collected 12,440 pounds of trash from the shoreline and neighboring tributaries. (Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Montgomery County Installs 'Litter Trap' to Keep Trash Out of Waterways

Montgomery County has installed its first-ever "litter trap," which will capture trash and debris and prevent it from flowing downstream into the Anac…

According to the 2020 Yale Climate Opinion Maps, 72% of adult Marylanders think global warming is happening and 69% are worried about it. (Adobe Stock)

'Climate Solutions Now Act' Heads to Gov. Hogan's Desk

The Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation that, if signed into law, would strengthen the state's commitment to reducing greenhouse-gas …

Maryland is a leader in the regenerative farming push through its Million Acre Challenge, a goal to convert half of Maryland's agricultural land to healthy soil by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Fighting Chesapeake Bay Pollution through Regenerative Farming

Chesapeake Bay states have until 2025 to implement watershed pollution-reduction practices, and a new report shows "climate-smart" farming in …

World leaders at COP26 in Scotland, including President Joe Biden, secured pacts to reduce methane emissions worldwide. (Number 10/Flickr)<br />

MD Leaders at World Climate Summit Push for Action at Home

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers are traveling to the annual international climate conference in Glasgow, and they're pushing the U.S. to take …

Maryland's Prince George's County, which has several highways and a majority Black population, scored a grade of

Maryland AG: Strike Down Trump's Low Vehicle-Emissions Standards

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing this week to reconsider letting states decide their own vehicle-…

Rising severe weather patterns are causing more roadways in Maryland to flood, as in Ellicott City in 2016. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report: MD Road Flooding Costs Millions Each Year

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With another extreme hurricane season about to start, a new study found roadway flooding in Maryland occurs not just on the coast …

Maryland officials originally said no homes would be destroyed during construction of new toll lanes on Interstate 270, but revised plans indicate some will. (Wikimedia Commons)

Bill to Curb “Broken Promises” on MD Plan to Widen Beltway, I-270

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers and environmental groups rallied Wednesday for new legislation they say would improve the process of the state's …

A new Maryland report emphasizes the importance of environmental justice in forming clean energy policies. (Tom Pelton/Environmental Integrity Project)

MD Report Pushes Aggressive Climate-Action Plans

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Environmental groups are praising a new report that recommends Maryland reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 50% by 2030…

$Environmental groups oppose a proposed fracked-gas pipeline expected to run through rivers and farmland on Maryland's Eastern Shore. (Adobe Stock)$

Groups Fight Proposed Gas Pipeline on MD's Eastern Shore

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Environmental groups and local residents are speaking out against a proposed fracked-gas pipeline to run through rivers, farms and …

Businesses in Ellicott City, Md., still are struggling to repair damages from floods in 2016. (Wikimedia Commons)

Experts: States Should Focus on Flood-Resiliency Projects Despite Pandemic

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Hurricane season officially starts today, and the East Coast -- including Maryland -- could be headed into a harsh storm season …

Rising temperatures from climate change tend to affect a city's most vulnerable neighborhoods, according to a new report. (Maryland Dept. of Housing & Community Development)

Report: Climate Change Makes Urban Neighborhoods Hotter

BALTIMORE - This time of year, it's hard to think about summer heat waves, but a new report says Baltimore and other big cities should prepare for …

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the state includes a controversial proposal to widen the Capital Beltway and add toll lanes. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD Emissions Plan Will Set Climate Movement Back

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland's climate action plan, which was released in October by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, will not help the state reduce …

A new report makes a compelling case that the oil industry was aware of the effects of fossil fuel on climate change, but allegedly deceived the public about it for decades. (Adobe stock)

Historic Congressional Hearing Targets Big Oil’s Climate Denial

WASHINGTON – The first ever congressional hearing on Big Oil's history of climate denial is Wednesday. Led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.…

A new task force in Maryland aims to help install new solar-panel projects at the state�s community colleges and universities. (Adobe stock)

MD’s New Clean-Energy Task Force Cuts Out Green Groups

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive order last week that establishes a task force to recommend …

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing rollbacks to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, even though most industrial plants already have adopted the necessary technology under the regulations. (Pixabay)

Parents Oppose EPA Plan to Roll Back Pollution Standards

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Members of Moms Clean Air Force testified earlier this week before the Environmental Protection Agency over plans to roll back …

According to Moms Clean Air Force, eight coal plants in Maryland have reduced mercury and air toxics as a result of mercury standards (Cathy at Creative Commons)

Moms Call for Protection of Children from Mercury Pollution

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Moms from Washington, D.C. are among those asking elected leaders to think hard about making Andrew Wheeler, a former coal …

A new report says Chesapeake Bay is in danger of increased pollution from rivers and streams in its watershed. (JamesDeMers/Pixabay)

Chesapeake Bay Report Shows More Pollution

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Chesapeake Bay became more polluted last year for the first time in a decade, according to a new report from the Chesapeake Bay …

Pumpkins for sale at Maryland stores are more likely to be trucked in from other states this year, as record rainfall squashed the pumpkin-growing season. (Grantbahk/Pixabay)

Maryland's Pumpkin Crop Drowns in Soggy Summer

PARKVILLE, Md. – You may notice higher prices for pumpkins this Halloween. Some Maryland farmers are being forced to buy the popular gourds out …

Energy production is a major source of climate-altering greenhouse gases, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Amanda Eason/Twenty20)

Maryland AG Vigorously Opposes Clean Power Plan Replacement

BALTIMORE – Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh thinks the Trump administration's plans to scale back restrictions on carbon emissions from co…

Transportation is the leading source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. (Pixabay)

Maryland Voices Concern about Lower Emission Standards

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Trump administration wants to freeze the fuel-efficiency and emissions standards in 2020, canceling the tougher rules that …

Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard was established in 2004, according to the Maryland Public Service Commission. (Pixabay)

Environmental Groups Want New Goals for Maryland’s Renewable Energy

BALTIMORE — While state officials believe they are working toward a greener Maryland, environmental groups in the state are calling for changes …

NASA uses Earth-observing satellites to monitor conditions in Chesapeake Bay over time. (Pixabay)

NASA Using Chesapeake Bay Pollution Research for Satellites

BALTIMORE — Researchers have conducted extensive studies on air pollution and smog on land, but looking at air pollution over water and at a …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

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MD: Climate Change