Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of March 11, 2013

March 13^th - Dr. Libby Jewett, NOAA - "Ocean acidification at NOAA: An integrated research and monitoring approach." This seminar is a part of the 2013 Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Distinguished Scholar Seminar Series. This event will be held on Wednesday at 3:30pm at BFL 1101, at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.

March 24^th Deadline for Applications - University of Maryland, College Park Office of Sustainability Seeking Interns for the Summer 2013. The following internship positions are available: Environmentally Preferable Procurement, Education and Outreach; Green Office Education and Outreach; and Measurement and Assessment.

April 15^th - 16^th - Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference - Colleges and universities are incubators of innovation, tackling the biggest challenges of society through creative means. The 2013 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference provides the setting to learn, share and explore how campuses are using their passion for innovation to develop technologies, infrastructure, programs and curricula that address the world's most pressing sustainability challenges.

April 27^th - Towson University's 5th Annual Environmental Conference - The annual conference addresses the impact of individuals and communities on the environment and actions that individuals and communities can take to positively impact the environment and create a more sustainable world. The conference is designed to raise awareness among students, faculty and staff about environmental topics, issues and solutions. Each year members of the campus community gather to hear presentations from faculty, students and environmental leaders in the Baltimore region.

  State of Maryland News

March 12^th - 24^th - 21^st Annual Environmental Film Festival, Washington, DC. The vital role of earth's rivers in human survival and their vulnerability in the changing global environment is theme of the 2013 Festival. The locations for the screening of films that make up the festival, will be held at a variety of venues in the DC Metro area, including several in Maryland.

Board of Public Works Approves Funding for Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay: Grants and Loans Will Reduce Nutrient Pollution, Conserve Water, Improve infrastructure (Maryland Department of the Environment Press Release, 3/6/13)

O'Malley proposes wholesale gas tax increase over years: Gov. says it would be offset by reduction in excise tax (Reported by WBAL-TV, 3/5/13)

Governor O'Malley, Senate President Miller, House Speaker Busch Propose Transportation Investment Plan: Five-year, $3.4 billion investment projected to support 44,000 jobs (Office of Governor Martin O'Malley Press Release, 3/4/13)

Governor O'Malley Leads Discussion with Local Officials on Cost-effective Approaches to Chesapeake Bay Restoration: Maryland Stormwater Symposium highlights innovative practices to Reclaim the Bay (Maryland Department of the Environment Press Release, 3/4/13)

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

• Practices
• Programs
• Policies

• Presentations
• Climate Change Definitions
• Facilities Master Planning
• Statewide Sustainability Efforts
• ACUPCC National Benchmarking
• Useful Links and References

 National and International News

March 23^rd at 8:30pm - Earth Hour 2013 - The World Wildlife Federation is calling for people across the world to take part in Earth Hour 2013 - the biggest switch-off in history. Hundreds of millions of people across the globe are expected to turn off their lights for an hour, to show they care about the future of our planet. Last year's Earth Hour saw a staggering 6,950 towns and cities in more than 152 countries take part in what has become a global movement. From a single domestic light bulb to giant iconic illuminations such as Big Ben, the Taj Mahal and the Sydney Opera House, the Earth Hour switch-off can demonstrate a determination to help protect the planet.

Amplified Greenhouse Effect Shifts North's Growing Seasons (Science Daily - Science News, 3/10/13)

Climate change waits for no man ([Chattanooga] Times Free Press - Opinions and Editorials, 3/9/13)

Earth Hurtling Towards Temperatures Not Seen in 11,000 Years: New study shows global temperatures skyrocketed in last century (By Andrea Germanos, CommonDreams.org, 3/8/13)

Cluefulness on climate change is on the rise, even among Republicans (By John Upton, Grist.org, 3/8/13)

EPA Accused Of Blocking Scientific Advancement of Corexit In BP Cleanup (By Farron Cousins, DeSmogBlog.com, 3/7/13)

Death of Hugo Chávez gives Venezuela a choice on climate change: Will the oil-rich country become a key engineer in a new global climate deal, or will it sabotage progress? (By Guy Edwards and Susanna Mage, The [UK] Guardian, 3/7/13)

Schools across the U.S. will soon start teaching real climate science (By John Upton, Grist.org, 3/7/13)

Boris Johnson's bold thinking could change the future of London cycling: Mayor's new plans for cycling in the capital could re-shape the way Londoners transport themselves for decades to come (By Peter Walker, The [UK] Guardian - Environment Blog, 3/7/13) 

Will 'Angry Summer' Report Finally Crack Australian Media's 'Climate Silence'? Observers want to know if Australia's climate-silent media will ever follow suit (By Lauren McCauley, CommonDreams.org, 3/7/13)

Australia officially blames climate change for ‘angry summer' (By John Upton, Grist.org, 3/6/13)

Breaking: NY Assembly Passes Two Year Fracking Moratorium, Senate Expected to Follow (By Steve Horn, DeSmog Blog, 3/6/13)

Carbon dioxide levels made a big, scary jump in 2012 (By John Upton, Grist.org, 3/6/13)

Big One-Year Jump In Atmospheric CO2 Brings Climate Catastrophe Closer (By Jeff Spross, ThinkProgress.org - Climate Progress Blog, 3/6/13)

Coal triggers carbon level rise (By Alex Kirby, Climate News Network, 3/6/13)

Climate Change: The Secret Inflamer of the Arab Spring (By Tim McDonnell, The Atlantic Cities Blog, 3/6/13)

Climate Activists 'Furious' Following Release of 'Absurd' Keystone XL Review: Focused ire will turn on Obama if he succumbs to oil industry pressure and approves pipeline (By Jon Queally, CommonDreams.org, 3/5/13) 

Can the New EPA Chief Stop Obama Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline? Gina McCarthy's promotion at the EPA will not allay fears that a recent State Department report means KXL is now a done deal (By Richard Schiffman, CommonDreams.org, 3/5/13)

NYT, WaPo cut back environment coverage, since we're not worried about that anymore (By Greg Hanscom, Grist.org, 3/5/13)

For Times Environmental Reporting, Intentions May Be Good but the Signs Are Not (By Margaret Sullivan, The New York Times -Public Editor's Journal, 3/5/13)

The Climate Change Rebound (By Barry Rabe and Christopher P. Borick, Brookings Institution, 3/4/13)

Republican Science! GOPer Says Riding a Bike Causes More Pollution Than Driving a Car: The GOP should take 3rd grade science over (Alternet.org, 3/4/13)

Troublemaker of the Year (By Abby Zimet, CommonDreams.org, 3/4/13)

Climate Change Science Poised to Enter Nation's Classrooms: New standards recommend teaching man-made global warming in all science classes. Some textbook publishers to incorporate curriculum immediately. (By Katherine Bagley, InsideClimate News 3/4/13)