4-11-12: Addressing Climate Change, State by State

How Maryland compares to other northeastern states in terms of global warming preparedness. Green = Category 1 (most prepared); light green= Category 2; orange = Category 3; red = Category 4.

Maryland, with its long tidal coastline, is one of states most vulnerable to rising sea level.  Now a national environmental group is giving Maryland high marks as one of the states best prepared to deal with the effects of global warming.  The non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council said its new report, titled “Ready or Not: An Evaluation of State Climate and Water Preparedness Planning” looks at whether states are protecting their shorelines against risk of sea level rise … and if they’re working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

You can look at the NRDC’s map comparing states here.

But how much does Maryland’s approach matter…if nearby states are choosing not to prepare at all?  And did anything happen in this legislative session to impact global warming?

Sheilah discusses this with Steve Fleischli, Director of Water and Climate for Natural Resource Defense Council, who worked on the report, and with Tommy Landers, Director of Environment Maryland, who regularly lobbies Maryland lawmakers about climate change.

[audio http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wypr/local-wypr-1009300.mp3]