ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore last month delivered remarks at the 2023 Maryland League of Conservation Voters Changemakers celebration, honoring Marylanders who have demonstrated vision, leadership, and courage in protecting the environment. The event took place at the Colwell Center in downtown Baltimore, home to the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology.
“Being a changemaker is hard and it takes partnership. We praise these changemakers not only for their individual accomplishments, but also for how their collective accomplishments moved us forward,” said Gov. Moore. “If we follow the example of these changemakers, I know we will meet this moment united and build a better, more sustainable, more resilient, and more equitable future.”
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses political action and education to protect our air, land, water, and communities. The event focused on addressing climate change, climate justice, and the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Rita Colwell, distinguished professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health—for whom the Colwell Center is named—was in attendance.
“We are honored to have had Governor Moore as the keynote speaker for Maryland LCV’s annual Changemakers event, which saw a remarkable turnout of over 400 attendees,” said Maryland League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Kim Coble. “His vision and commitment to achieving 100% clean energy by 2035 for Maryland are both commendable and essential. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the governor and his administration to create a healthier environment for everyone in Maryland.”
Honorees included awards for 2023 Legislators of the Year, presented to Senator Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr. and Delegate Luke H. Clippinger; Climate Champion awardees Delegate Lorig Charkoudian and Delegate Dana Stein; and John V. Kabler Memorial Award recipient Liz Burdock, executive director of the Business Network for Offshore Wind.
Since the beginning of the Moore-Miller administration, the governor has been a champion for Maryland’s environment. In January, Governor Moore announced the release of $69 million in previously withheld funding in the FY23 budget; released $9 million to support the Climate Solutions Now Act; and reaffirmed Maryland’s membership in the U.S. Climate Alliance.
In April, Governor Moore announced a new partnership between the Maryland Department of the Environment and The Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland to model Maryland’s pathway toward ambitious climate goals. The announcement came during a roundtable discussion at the State House with climate goal stakeholders including representatives from the Maryland Department of the Environment, University of Maryland, League of Conservation Voters, Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, and Blink Charging.
In August, Governor Moore hosted the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat for a meeting at the State House to discuss the Moore-Miller administration’s action to combat climate change and the path toward reaching Maryland’s ambitious climate goals.
Last month, Governor Moore delivered a speech focused on climate and economic justice during the opening ceremony of Climate Week New York City 2023. Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together some 400 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online.
