Global warming is the most profound threat to our environment that we now face. From the increasingly severe hurricanes along the East Coast to the disappearing glaciers that are causing sea level rise, the effects of global warming are happening now. How much worse it gets depends on how soon we act to reduce our use of fossil fuels.
The stakes are particularly high for Maryland. We are already losing 260 acres per year to rising sea levels, and scientists predict that warming will cause sea level in Maryland to rise by as much as three feet before the century’s end. Warmer seas will produce more severe tropical storms and hurricanes—causing damage to towns along the Chesapeake Bay and more floods throughout the state.
We can reverse the trends that are causing the planet’s temperature to rise. But we need to act quickly to establish real solutions. These include:
- Energy that comes from clean sources such as wind, solar, and clean forms of biomass.
- Using energy as efficiently as possible.
- Requiring that cars and trucks produce less carbon dioxide emissions.
- Better public transportation in our cities and fast-growing parts of the state to reduce driving.
