What is Delaware’s playbook for addressing the impact of climate change in The First State?
The 2025 Climate Action Plan, released in early 2026, recognizes that transportation, industry and electrical power are the three main factors behind greenhouse gas emissions. The main impacts are warmer temperatures, sea level rise, and more frequent storms.
Getting to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 is the goal.
“Climate change is real, and it is affecting Delaware and Delawareans in serious ways,” Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Greg Patterson said.
Delaware’s first Climate Action Plan came out in 2021. According to Patterson, this latest version looks to put Delaware on a track toward sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enjoying the effects – whether or not one is skeptical about climate change and man-made effects.
“We are talking about strategies for cleaner air, for more dense walkable bikeable communities with more transit, less flooding, more trees and forests, productive farmland, more and better quality wetlands,” Patterson said.
Regarding agricultural lands and open space, DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy Administrator Susan Love said “the natural ability of these lands to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere is necessary to meet those long-term goals.”
According to DNREC, the Climate Action plan developed out of extensive public engagement over 18 months. Public workshops were held in all three counties, dozens of community briefings were held, and more than 2,300 Delaware provided input through events, surveys and feedback sessions. Under-resources communities also received outreach.
“Climate change is already reshaping life here in the First State, from extreme rainfall overwhelming our stormwater systems, to heat islands driving up temperatures in our cities, and coastal roads flooding regularly,” Governor Matt Meyer said. “Our Climate Action Plan puts people first by protecting clean air and water for every Delawarean, creating good-paying clean energy jobs, and making our communities safer and more equitable. We’ve seen real progress towards ambitious targets to cut pollution and strengthen resilience, but now we accelerate — because protecting our environment means protecting our families, our economy, and our future.”
Patterson added that the CAP is designed with flexibility in mind, and that “actions may change over time based on increased understanding of climate impacts, technology advancements and stakeholder input.” Regular updates are due in 2027 and 2029 before the next Climate Action Plan comes out in 2030.
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