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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="2-1303" title_number="2" title_name="Ambient Air Quality Control" subtitle_number="13" subtitle_name="Maryland Commission on Climate Change">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Commission shall establish:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A Scientific and Technical Working Group;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Working Group;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An Adaptation and Response Working Group;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>An Education, Communication, and Outreach Working Group;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Subject to § 2–1303.1 of this subtitle, a Just Transition Employment and Retraining Working Group;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Subject to § 2–1303.2 of this subtitle, an Energy Industry Revitalization Working Group;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Subject to § 2–1303.3 of this subtitle, an Energy Resilience and Efficiency Working Group; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Subject to § 2–1303.4 of this subtitle, a Solar Photovoltaic Systems Recovery, Reuse, and Recycling Working Group.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Commission may establish other working groups as needed.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Chair of the Commission shall appoint working group members who represent both public and private interests in climate change, including representatives of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Academic institutions;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Renewable and traditional energy providers;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Environmental organizations;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Government agencies;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Labor organizations; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Business interests, including the insurance and real estate industries.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Commission shall prioritize working group actions, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Strengthening and maintaining existing State climate action plans;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Developing broad public and private partnerships with local, State, and federal agencies;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Communicating with and educating citizens about the urgency of acting to reduce the impacts of climate change;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Maintaining an inventory of Maryland’s greenhouse gas emissions sources and carbon sinks;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Addressing any disproportionate impacts of climate change on low–income and vulnerable communities;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Assessing the impacts that climate change may have on the State’s economy, revenues, and investment decisions;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Assessing the needs for utilities and other public and private service providers throughout the State to adjust their operating practices and investment strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on their customers and the public;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Assessing the impacts that climate change may have on agriculture in the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Recommending short– and long–term strategies and initiatives to better mitigate, prepare for, and adapt to the consequences of climate change;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>Assisting local governments in supporting community–scale climate vulnerability assessments and the development and integration of specific strategies into local plans and ordinances;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>Establishing comprehensive and accountable annual working group work plans that set annual goals and performance benchmarks and prioritize new and existing climate change mitigation and preparedness actions and initiatives;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="12">
      <text>Maintaining a comprehensive action plan, with 5–year benchmarks, to achieve science–based reductions in Maryland’s greenhouse gas emissions;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="13">
      <text>Convening regular working group and full Commission meetings to ensure that sufficient progress is being made across all sectors and communities in Maryland; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="14">
      <text>Considering other related matters as the Commission determines to be necessary.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
