Braving chilly temperatures and a steady snowfall, about 200 activists gathered in Annapolis yesterday in support of a bill to combat climate change by requiring severe reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions.
They waved signs with slogans such as "Our coast, our chance, our future" and they applauded lawmakers who walked a green carpet to sign a pledge to co-sponsor the bill.
"What other movement in Maryland in the cold, in the snow, would turn out this many people?" cried out Chesapeake Climate Action Network founder Mike Tidwell to a chorus of cheers and drumbeats.
And while the group of activists was boisterous, it's not clear if their energy will result in the passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act, a bill that will be introduced and would require sharp reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions.
That's because there's been no sup-port yet from any of the three men who can make or break policy in Annapolis: Gov. Martin O'Malley, House Speaker Michael E. Busch or Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. Jr.
"The governor knows that we need to work to address global climate change," said Christine Hansen, a spokesman for the governor.
She also said Mr. O'Malley will "look very seriously at the bill," but wouldn't say whether he would throw his weight behind it.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch said climate change is an important issue that the state General Assembly has partially addressed with laws to cut down on car emissions and power-plant emissions.
But he said more stringent regulations should be made on a regional or national scale.
"A national standard would be beneficial for all the states," he said.
The Global Warming Solutions Act would include the recommendations of a climate-change commission that was appointed by the governor last year.
By 2025, it would require a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses from current levels, and a 90 percent reduction by 2050.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, climate change occurs when higher levels of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane are released into Earth's atmosphere. Those gases trap heat, instead of allowing it to dissipate into space - thus the nickname "greenhouse effect."
In Maryland, greenhouse gases come from a variety of sources, but mostly from producing electricity and driving vehicles.
The result is increased air temperatures that can lead to rising sea levels and changes in the climate patterns around the globe, according to the agency.
To reduce emissions, the state would set up a cap-and-trade program for major emitters, such as power plants. The bill also would direct state agencies to come up with other ways to cut emissions.
While advocates acknowledge that Maryland's reductions alone would do little to directly affect global climate change, they said the symbolic message is perhaps even more important.
"Slowly the federal government has followed what the states have done ... The way to do it is to have the states move first," said Del. Kumar Barve, D-Montgomery County, the House majority leader.
Mr. Barve and Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George's, were the lead sponsors of a similar bill that failed last year.
Mr. Pinsky said he's undeterred.
"We're going to pass this bill this year," he shouted to the crowd. "We're not going to rest, we're not going to stop ... We're going to keep going until we pass the bill!"
The crowd included high school students from Prince George's County and employees from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation who biked to the rally in the snow.
The irony of holding a global warming rally on a snowy day was not lost on participants.
Mr. Barve noted: "At least we have weather appropriate for wintertime, finally."
