Americans? attachment to cars and sprawling development presents major obstacles in the fight to reduce global warming, and may be the toughest to tackle, environmentalists say.
“If you look at the impact of cars and driving and on global warming, to not talk about that piece misses a major component of the problem,” said Cindy Schwartz, executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.
The first report of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change lays out aggressive goals for reducing global warming pollution but makes few recommendations on transportation issues, according to a coalition of environmental groups known as the Alliance for Global Warming Solutions, of which the league is a member.
Instead, many of the initial priorities listed focus on increasing energy efficiency in the upcoming legislative session.
The commission recommended an energy-investment fund and amendments to the state?s Renewable Portfolio Standards law, which requires the state to get 9.5 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, to encourage investment into renewable energy sources.
The commission also urged Gov. Martin O?Malley to evaluate projects for their impact on global warming pollution and push ways to increase public awareness on global warming.
The commission set a goal of reducing global warming pollution 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020 and 90 percent below by 2050.
More concrete recommendations on transportation initiatives should come in the commission?s April report, said Brad Heavner, state director of Environment Maryland, an activist group that is also a member of the alliance.
“The commission is considering a lot of transportation strategies, but none were ready for early action,” he said.
“It?s the trickier one to handle.”
Transportation is trickier because it involves smart growth, how communities are designed and a focus on public transportation, which Heavner called “a big task.”
The initial report, which the commission approved Tuesday, presented aggressive but achievable goals, environmentalists said.
“The report lays out some potential legislative initiatives and ways the statecan achieve these goals,” Schwartz said. “It?s a strong report.”
