Climate change in Maryland
[4] NASA projects that, by mid-century, Maryland will experience more than 60 additional days peer year above 90 °F (32 °C) compared to the end of last century under continued increases in emissions.
[1] Sea level in Maryland rose by 1 foot (0.30 m) in the 20th century, partially because the land is sinking as a result of slow adjustments of the Earth after the last ice age.
Projections that include accelerating the melting of ice would increase the relative sea-level along Maryland's shorelines by more than 1 foot by mid-century and 3 feet by late century if greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow".
[4] The effects of accelerated sea-level rise are already observable, including shoreline erosion, deterioration of tidal wetlands, and saline contamination of low-lying farm fields.
The freshwater wetlands in the upper tidal portions of the Potomac, Patuxent, Choptank, and Nanticoke rivers build their own land by capturing floating sediments, and they are likely to keep pace with the rising sea during the next century.
[9] The United States Geological Survey estimates that Assateague Island is "very likely" to be broken up by new inlets or lost to erosion if sea level rises two feet by the year 2100.
[11] The estimated loss of infrastructure and cultural assets from rising sea levels at Assateague Island National Seashore alone, for example, could reach as high as $141.9 million.
[1] A March 2019 study by the First Street Foundation found that Maryland had already lost over half a billion dollars in property value because of tidal flooding linked to sea level rise.
[14] Climate change poses a threat to bird species that depend on high elevation habitats that have been greatly reduced in size, such as the northern saw-whet owl and golden-crowned kinglet.
It also impacts birds that reside in coastal marsh habitats during their nesting season, including rails and sparrows, through sea level rise and severe weather events such as storms and tidal surges.
[15] "The most vulnerable marshes along Chesapeake Bay are inhabited by great blue heron, bald eagle, American black duck, and snowy egret.
[16] Warming water temperatures could influence the social behaviors of freshwater fish (including activity levels, consumptive demands, growth rates, symbiosis, and the amount of suitable habitat available), where adaptability to these changes is varied among species.
Atlantic coast studies have observed that changes in precipitation and stream flow affect species of diadromous fish, such as the American shad, who rely on temperatures for knowing when to move northward for spawning.
[1] Climate change is predicted to have direct and impact blue crab population through habitat and ecosystem attributes, demographics, and broad-scale weather effects on recruitment dynamics.
As sea level rises, the Chesapeake Bay region is expected to lose some of the wetlands that fish and shellfish depend on for nursery grounds.
Warmer waters are expected to increase harmful algae, lower oxygen levels, and change the mix of species that thrive in the bay".
[1] Extreme weather events, including flooding, pests and disease, and ozone levels, are likely to intensify or become less predictable with climate change, likely resulting in increased costs to both farmers and consumers.
[19] "Climate change may also pose challenges for agriculture: some farms may be harmed if more hot days and droughts reduce crop yields, or if more flooding and wetter springs delay their planting dates.
[4] In 2011, the Maryland Department of Agriculture received federal disaster assistance for droughts, extreme heat, and hurricanes which led to market losses of at least 30 percent in some parts of the state.
[20] During the 2007 legislative session, lawmakers introduced and passed the Clean Cars Act, which requires Maryland to adopt the tougher emissions standards imposed by California.
[34] In November 2014, O'Malley proposed legislation to allow hydraulic fracking in western Maryland, but required energy companies to adhere to public health and environmental regulations to limit the risks of drinking-water contamination and air pollution.
[36] As a candidate, Hogan called fracking opportunities in western Maryland "an economic gold mine" and faulted the state for taking too long to decide whether to allow drilling for oil.
[55] He also proposed regulations to achieve 100% clean energy use by 2035 and net zero carbon emissions by 2045, electrify the state's fleet, and prioritize environmental-justice funding.
[57] In February 2023, Moore introduced the Clean Transportation and Energy Act, which increases incentives for people and businesses looking to purchase electric trucks and charging stations.
[61] On 4 June 2024, while visiting a Baltimore public school, Moore issued an executive order requiring that Maryland state agencies detail, by 1 November 2024, how they will address the climate crisis and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2031, compared with 2006 levels.
