(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Today, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President Will Baker welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to CBF’s headquarters in Annapolis. In a speech, Sec. Blinken announced stronger U.S. efforts to mitigate climate change.
Sec. Blinken’s remarks came as U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to host a climate summit with world leaders Thursday, which is Earth Day.
Baker welcomed Blinken and showed the secretary around CBF’s Philip Merrill Environmental Center on the shores of the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay. The center was the first building in the world to be certified LEED Platinum when it opened in 2001. It and CBF’s Brock Environmental Center in Virginia, which was built to higher energy efficiency standards and completed in 2014, have served as models for sustainable, environmentally friendly architecture.
Following Sec. Blinken’s remarks, CBF President Will Baker issued the following statement:
“It was a great honor to welcome Secretary Blinken to our Annapolis headquarters and hear him speak about the importance of the United States leading efforts to mitigate climate change. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation undertook the challenge of building our offices—the Philip Merrill and Brock Environmental Centers—to the highest environmental standards. We’re proud to be a leader in the green building movement. Our construction choices benefitted U.S. businesses and reduced our carbon footprint. Today, the Philip Merrill Center served as the backdrop for a clarion call to the world.
“We often hold up the efforts to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a model for environmental restoration. We advocate for state and federal leaders to work together to clean up the Bay’s 63,000-mile watershed. While there’s more work left to do, the Bay has responded. We’re seeing more wildlife, cleaner water, and a better quality of life for residents in the watershed.
“We hope the global response to climate change will be similar—countries working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Doing so will ensure a healthy Earth for future generations and increase economic opportunity as the transition toward sustainable infrastructure continues. After four years of climate complacency in the U.S., it was inspiring to hear the Secretary speak about the United States’ desire to recommit to its role as a global leader in improving the environment.”
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