(a) Inventory. The Office of Sustainability in the Department of Environmental Protection may update the greenhouse gas emissions inventory to determine the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the County and submit a written report on the inventory to the County Executive and County Council.
(b) Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Office may update the County Climate Protection Plan. Any update should report the County’s progress on reducing Countywide greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the base year identified in the inventory prepared under subsection (a) by January 1, 2050, including any recommendations that would ensure a 10% reduction every 5 years through 2050.
(c) Climate Protection Plan. The Climate Protection Plan must:
(1) identify a strategy, including short-, mid-, and long-term goals to reduce Countywide greenhouse gas emissions to the levels required in subsection (b);
(2) explain how the Climate Protection Plan relates to the Energy Policy approved by the Council under Section 18A-3 and identify any recommended changes to the Energy Policy that are needed to implement the Climate Protection Plan;
(3) identify existing cap and trade programs and recommend whether the County should join a cap and trade program;
(4) identify ways to increase sequestration of greenhouse gases, including a Tree Canopy Initiative that contains a plan for increasing the County’s tree canopy;
(5) include an education and outreach plan designed to educate County residents and businesses about:
(A) global climate change;
(B) County efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
(C) sequestration of carbon; and
(D) best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
(6) include a strategy to achieve a significant improvement in the average County fleet fuel economy standards as required under Section 18A-20;
(7) identify a strategy to reduce vehicle miles traveled in the County; and
(8) estimate the time and resources necessary to implement the Climate Protection Plan.
(d) Preparation. In preparing any update to the Climate Protection Plan, the Office must:
(1) consider greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs in other jurisdictions;
(2) evaluate the potential costs and benefits of different options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the County’s economy, environment, health, safety, and welfare; and
(3) use the best available economic models, emissions estimating techniques, and other scientific methods.
(e) Annual report. The Office of Sustainability must submit a report to the County Executive and County Council by February 1 of each year that specifies:
(1) the actions taken to implement the Climate Protection Plan in the preceding fiscal year; and
(2) whether the County is meeting the goals identified in the Climate Protection Plan. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)
Editor’s note—Section 18A-15, formerly § 18A-14, was renumbered, amended and retitled pursuant to 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.
Editor’s note—Former Section 18A-15, Carbon tax, derived from 2008 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 2, was repealed by 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.