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Maryland’s Sustainability Chief Reflects on a ‘Difficult’ Year of Legislative Setbacks
Chief sustainability officer Meghan Conklin defended the state’s mixed climate record—but admitted this was “one of the more challenging sessions” she’s experienced.
By Aman Azhar
When Meghan Conklin became Maryland’s first-ever chief sustainability officer in 2024, the state seemed poised for rapid climate progress. With billions of dollars in federal funding available under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), decision makers were preparing to meet statutory mandates to cut emissions 60 percent by 2031 and reach net zero by 2045.