Looking Ahead to Maryland 2050: Living in Our Environment

Abstracts

Panel I: Global Drivers and their Local Influences

Climate Change: an Issue for Maryland in the 21st Century

Anthony Janetos, Director, Joint Global Change Research Institute

Abstract
Climate change, its causes, consequences, and potential solutions, is an environmental issue that is nearly certain to change the lives of Marylanders in the 21st century in meaningful ways.  Global changes in atmospheric composition and in the physical climate system are now well documented, and are already having noticeable effects in ecosystems.  Maryland’s landscape is very likely to be affected by global climate change and sea-level rise, environmental drivers that may well accelerate the effects of other important environmental stressors.  The search for solutions to climate change will impact programs in both higher education and the private sector, and should prove to be an important agenda for our own research efforts.

Speaker information
Anthony C. Janetos was named Director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute in October, 2006. Dr. Janetos previously served as vice president of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment in Washington, D.C., where he directed the center's Global Change Program. He has written and spoken widely to policy, business, and scientific audiences on the need for scientific input and scientific assessment in the policymaking process and about the need to understand the scientific, environmental, economic, and policy linkages among the major global environmental issues.