Planning for Maryland’s Future: Adapting to Climate Change to Secure Health and Prosperity

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Daniel M. Kreeger
Executive Director
Association of Climate Change Officers

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If you’re paying attention to the news this week, you’ll read stories on the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  I’ll simplify it for you.  World leaders are rightfully calling for a transformation of unprecedented scale because the window is narrowing.  Adapting to meet these challenges will require a climate smart workforce featuring updated job skills, informed decision-making and new decision-support tools.

Last month, Maryland opened enrollment for the Maryland Climate Leadership Academy, the nation’s first state-led Academy.  This is a huge step toward ensuring that Maryland has a climate smart workforce and communities that are prepared to successfully tackle climate change challenges and opportunities.  The Academy is being administered by the state through a contract with the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) and is being advised by a council of state and local officials and national experts (including David Rouse, Managing Director of Research and Advisory Services for the American Planning Association).

The first programs offered will be series of classes providing a crash course featuring modules on climate science and vulnerability assessment, the energy-water-food nexus, greenhouse gas management, organizational change, law and policy, risk management, economic impact assessment, leadership and entrepreneurship.  This 3-part series prepares participants for the Certified Climate Change Professional® (CC-P®) credential -- and we are working on getting these courses to satisfy AICP continuing education requirements as well. 

Upcoming CC-P® prep series have been announced at 3 venues:

·       Chesapeake College: Starting November 19-20

·       Hagerstown Community College: Starting December 5-6

·       DC/Baltimore Venue TBA: December 18-19

The application deadline for enrollment in these programs is October 15 – oh, and the courses are free! 

You can learn more about these programs, as well as others that will be announced for 2019, at http://www.MDClimateAcademy.org.  

Let’s get to work on planning and preparing Maryland communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change while ensuring Marylanders’ health, security and vitality!