It takes all of us working together to address the existential threat of climate change in our communities.
That’s why Governor Carney prioritized efforts to address climate change by curbing emissions, increasing reliance on non-carbon and renewable energy sources, and working to preserve natural and working lands.
We set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Governor Carney, members of the General Assembly, and key state agencies are working to address this issue with a careful and comprehensive approach.
Climate Action Plan
In 2021, Governor Carney released the Climate Action Plan (CAP) – Delaware’s playbook to guide state agencies in the development of best practices, programs, policies, and regulations to mitigate factors that contribute to climate change while increasing resilience across sectors.
Leading with a whole of government approach, state agencies in Delaware will designate a climate change officer to participate in ongoing Climate Action Plan processes and deliverables. These officers will help shape balanced approaches to meet these climate change goals:
- Expanding access to clean and renewable energy.
- Reevaluating our transportation infrastructure.
- Supporting communities and stakeholders.
- Promoting research and monitoring progress.
Learn more about Delaware’s Climate Action Plan.
The transportation sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Delaware. That’s why Governor Carney’s Administration is:
- Creating a roadmap to guide the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
- Building out infrastructure by adding electric charging stations along major traffic corridors and transforming bus fleets to electric and hydrogen.
- Supporting DART First State (DART) and the Delaware Transit Corporation as they use federal grants to expand their electric bus fleet.
- Using DNREC’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program to incentivize an affordable transition to EVs.
Delaware is making strides to expand its green energy infrastructure by:
- Leaning on the expertise of the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (GEAC), whose members are responsible for providing recommendations to the State Energy Office on Delaware’s energy plan update.
- Optimizing federal dollars and encouraging private investments in renewable and clean energy options to ensure diversification of energy sources and reliability of Delaware’s energy supply.
- Ensuring that energy efficiency measures are accessible to Delawareans.
Preserving Delaware’s natural and working lands plays an important role in the state’s carbon sequestration efforts:
- Funding for the Open Space Program and Aglands Preservation Program will facilitate carbon sequestration, improve water quality, provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.
- Planting trees and managing forestlands through the Forest Initiative Fund (FIF) and the Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative (TEDI) are additional ways Delawareans can help sustain our natural lands.
- The Delaware Clean Water Initiative for Underserved Communities and the Clean Water for Delaware Act are supporting clean drinking and wastewater infrastructure in Delaware.
- Residents and visitors can ensure that Delaware remains a beautiful place to live and visit by helping to #KeepDELitterFree.
Legislative Action
Sponsored by Representative Deb Heffernan and Senator Stephanie Hansen
- Establishes a statutory target of greenhouse gas emission reductions of 50% by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050.
- Establishes a process to regularly update the Climate Action Plan to serve as a framework to achieve the targeted emission reductions.
Sponsored by Representative Sophie Phillips and Senator Sarah McBride
- Codifies the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program to incentivize the transition to EVs.
Sponsored by Senator Stephanie Hansen and Representative Deb Heffernan
- Codifies the duties of the State Energy Office within the DNREC.
- Commits the State Energy Office to provide the administrative support to the GEAC.