With costs soaring to hundreds of millions of dollars, bipartisan candidates across Maryland back the effort to shift the burden to fossil fuel companies, ease the strain on communities and combat extreme weather impacts such as the current heat wave 

ANNAPOLIS, MD — As temperatures climb to 102 degrees this weekend, Maryland communities are activating cooling centers, distributing water, and increasing emergency services to protect residents. These critical responses, especially during major events like the Fourth of July celebrations, come with high costs. A recent John Hopkins study found that just one week of extreme heat can cost a state hundreds of millions of dollars, underscoring the growing financial strain that climate-related extreme weather impacts place on local governments and taxpayers. 

Over 125 candidates for the Maryland House and Senate have signed a pledge to hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for those climate-related costs, aiming to relieve that huge financial burden. The pledge signals growing support for the Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act Implementation legislation, expected to be introduced next legislative session. Signatories include incumbents from the relevant committees, Republican and Democratic candidates, and candidates from every corner of the state.

“According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health modeling analysis, one week of extreme heat can cost a state over $870 million from medical costs, lost wages, and other societal costs,” said Brittany Baker, Maryland Director at CCAN Action Fund. “Extreme and chronic weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, so it is vital that we pass the implementation phase of the RENEW Act to ensure the corporations most responsible for the climate crisis help pay for the damages. Maryland families can’t afford to pay for these rising costs alone.”

“People have had enough — paying for dirty energy and then paying for the impacts of extreme weather events on our health, our economy, and our government budgets,” said Delegate Lorig Charkoudian (District 20, Montgomery County). “Meanwhile, fossil fuel billionaires continue to rake in the profits, while they fight to continue to pollute our planet. It’s time for them to pay to clean up the mess they made.” 

Organized by Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, the RENEW pledge comes as Maryland communities and taxpayers face extreme weather and escalating climate costs. From dangerous heat waves to severe flooding, Maryland residents are already bearing the consequences of a warming climate. These impacts carry a steep financial burden; for example, statewide school air-conditioning upgrades, needed as extreme heat forces closures, are projected to cost $776 million.

“Like tobacco and opioids, the fossil fuel industry knew for decades its products harm people and communities,” said Mike Tidwell, Executive Director at CCAN Action Fund. “Thankfully, 125-plus Maryland candidates for state office are ready to hold Big Oil accountable now. This is historic. It’s the right stance on one of the biggest issues of our time.”

“The RENEW Act is critical to provide funding that we need to make sure hundreds of thousands don’t lose health care coverage due to bad federal actions. We know that climate change causes serious health problems and increased hospitalizations, all costs that those who created these problems should pay to remedy,” said Vincent DeMarco, President at Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative.

Maryland’s Office of the Comptroller is currently assessing the full statewide cost of climate change. Advocates emphasize that these costs should be borne by the oil and gas companies that caused the climate crisis, not taxpayers. With the election approaching, pledge organizers plan to continue expanding candidate participation and elevating the RENEW Act as a key issue for voters.

Notable signatories to the pledge include: Delegate Marc Korman, Senator-Elect C.T. Wilson, Delegate Stuart Schmidt, Senator Katie Fry-Hester, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Senator-Elect Malcolm Ruff, and Senator-Elect Amar Mukunda.

Read the full pledge and list of signatory candidates HERE.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.