Maryland Cost of Climate Change Study
The Center for Climate Strategies is leading a landmark statewide analysis in Maryland to assess the economic and fiscal impacts of climate change. Formally titled “Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation – Total Assessed Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Study and Reports,” the study is led by the Office of Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC), and is mandated under the Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act of 2025.
This effort will produce Maryland’s first integrated, data-driven accounting of climate-related costs across economic sectors, infrastructure systems, natural resources, and public health. The study is designed to support future policy decisions, resilience investments, and fiscal planning by quantifying both the costs of climate impacts and the value of targeted response strategies.
Approach
The study combines climate science, economic analysis, and interagency collaboration through a multi-phase technical framework. Key components include:
Climate risk and hazard analysis using downscaled projections of temperature, precipitation, sea level rise, and extreme events
Sector and system-level exposure and vulnerability assessment to identify priority risks across communities, infrastructure, and economic activities
Loss and damage estimation to quantify historical and projected economic impacts
Adaptation cost-benefit analysis to evaluate strategies that reduce long-term risk and generate economic savings
The work also includes assessment of major emitter contributions to climate impacts and analysis of potential cost pass-through implications associated with future policy mechanisms.
Impact
The Maryland Cost of Climate Change Study will provide actionable, evidence-based insights to support:
State and local climate resilience planning
Strategic investment in infrastructure and adaptation measures
Improved fiscal and economic decision-making
Development of future policy and funding mechanisms
Results will be reported to the Maryland General Assembly and are expected to inform next-generation climate resilience and economic policy across the state.
