DOVER, DE – Delaware officials have unveiled the 2025 Climate Action Plan, a statewide roadmap designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen community resilience, and secure a safer future for residents as the impacts of climate change continue to grow. Governor Matt Meyer said the plan marks an acceleration of efforts to protect air and water quality, create clean energy jobs, and build equitable, climate-resilient communities. “Climate change is already reshaping life here in the First State,” Meyer said, citing flooding, rising temperatures, and heat islands as urgent threats. “Protecting our environment means protecting our families, our economy, and our future.”
The 2025 Climate Action Plan follows Delaware’s Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023, which mandates a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan builds upon the first version issued in 2021 and serves as a practical guide for immediate and long-term actions to meet those targets. It identifies strategies for reducing emissions, bolstering resilience, and preparing infrastructure for future risks, while also integrating land use planning into climate response.
Developed through 18 months of public engagement, the plan reflects feedback from more than 2,300 Delawareans who participated in community meetings, surveys, and workshops. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) emphasized that equity and inclusion shaped every stage of the process, particularly for under-resourced communities most affected by flooding and heat.
Delaware is already confronting the tangible effects of a warming climate. Sea levels along the state’s coast have risen more than a foot over the past century and are projected to rise another 1.2 to 1.5 feet by mid-century. Average statewide temperatures are three degrees higher than in 1895, with forecasts indicating an additional rise of three to four degrees by 2050. Precipitation patterns are also shifting, bringing more frequent heavy rainfall and increased flooding risks.
DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson described the plan as a flexible framework. “Actions may change over time based on increased understanding of climate impacts, technology advancements, and stakeholder input,” Patterson said. “No single policy or agency can solve this issue alone. It will take all of us working together.”
The plan outlines progress benchmarks through 2029 and calls for regular updates to ensure accountability and adaptability. The next revision is scheduled for 2030. State leaders across sectors highlighted the interconnected nature of climate change and the need for unified action. Transportation Secretary Shanté Hastings said her department is collaborating closely with DNREC to protect vulnerable infrastructure and design more resilient systems.
Public Advocate Jameson Tweedie pointed to the link between rising temperatures, higher energy costs, and reliability risks. He noted that investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy—especially solar—can reduce both emissions and utility bills. Health and environmental organizations also praised the plan for addressing public health impacts and prioritizing community well-being.
Shweta Arya of the Mid Atlantic Alliance on Climate and Health called climate change “a public health emergency,” emphasizing that the plan invests in strategies to prevent heat-related illness and protect clean air and water. Jen Adkins of the Delaware Nature Society noted that conserving wetlands and woodlands remains among the most effective ways to store carbon and protect communities from flooding. Maria Payan of the Sussex Health and Environmental Network said the plan advances “energy justice” by channeling resources toward families hit hardest by pollution and rising energy costs.
The 2025 Delaware Climate Action Plan aims to balance emission reduction, economic opportunity, and environmental protection while ensuring no community is left behind in the state’s response to a changing climate.
Delaware’s new climate roadmap accelerates emission cuts, resilience measures, and equitable investments to protect its people and environment.
