Pages Tagged With: "sustainability"
Preparing Delaware’s Workforce
Delaware’s path to a resilient, net-zero future depends on a skilled workforce ready to drive the clean energy transition. Meeting the state’s climate goals requires training workers for emerging technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable building, as well as reskilling those in existing occupations. Clean energyDelaware Climate Action Plan
The Delaware Climate Action Plan charts a bold path toward a cleaner, more resilient future for the First State. Climate change is already affecting Delaware communities with a recent survey showing that a majority of Delawareans are concerned about these impacts and want to see action taken. By addressing both emissions and impacts, the PlanProtecting Our Communities: Extreme Heat
Delaware is already experiencing the effects of a warming climate. Average temperatures have increased by about three degrees since 1895, with the 2010s marking the hottest decade on record. Climate projections show continued warming, with more frequent and intense heat waves, higher nighttime temperatures and a sharp increase in days above 90 degrees by theToward Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
Reducing Delaware’s greenhouse gas emissions to nearly zero by 2050 is essential to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023 sets clear statewide emission reduction targets: a 50% reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, compared to a 2005 baseline. Reaching these goals, however, will require bothEmissions Reduction: Transportation
Transportation is Delaware’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, making up nearly 30% of the state’s total in 2021. Emissions come from cars, trucks, buses, planes, boats and off-road equipment. Reducing transportation emissions is key to reaching Delaware’s net-zero goals while improving air quality, public health and community resilience. DelawareLand Use Intersections
Land use patterns and practices have a powerful intersection with climate change in Delaware. Patterns of growth and development influence current and future greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation, buildings and electricity sectors. They also determine whether the state can maximize carbon storage in natural lands. Decisions aboutProtecting Our Communities
Building state resilience to established and emerging hazards through climate adaptation is critical to safeguarding Delaware’s communities, economy and environment for generations to come. Climate adaptation is a continuous process that can protect people, places and infrastructure; accommodate changing conditions; avoid future risk; and help communities strategically retreat from areas that cannot be safely protected.Protecting Our Communities: Comprehensive Resilience
Compounding climate risks occur when multiple hazards interact and amplify one another, creating cascading impacts that strain communities, infrastructure and emergency response systems. As climate change intensifies, Delaware is increasingly likely to experience these overlapping risks, particularly when extreme events coincide or occur in quick succession. Vulnerable populations are often affected most, underscoring the needProtecting Our Communities: Emergent Hazards
Delaware is facing a growing range of climate-driven hazards beyond heat and flooding. In recent years, the state has experienced stronger storms, longer droughts, increased wildfire risk, emerging health threats and changes to coastal waters. Events like Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020 — which produced the longest-tracking tornado in Delaware in more than 70 yearsProtecting Our Communities: Sea Level Rise, Precipitation and Inland Flooding
Delaware is highly vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding due to its low elevation, flat landscape and ongoing land subsidence. Sea levels along Delaware’s coast are rising at roughly twice the global average, with tide gauges showing up to 15 inches of increase over the past century. Projections indicate an additional one to oneEmissions Reduction: Agriculture
Agriculture is a vital part of Delaware’s economy and landscape, supporting farm families, food production and covering more than 40% of the state’s land area. In addition to its economic value, farmland plays an important role in addressing climate change by storing carbon in soils and vegetation. While agriculture contributes a relatively small share ofEmissions Reduction: Oceans and Wetlands
In Delaware, no one is ever more than a mile from water. The state’s 381 miles of coastline and nearly 300,000 acres of wetlands provide substantial economic, ecological and community benefits. These coastal and marine systems also play a critical role in Delaware’s climate strategy by storing and sequestering carbon in vegetation, sediments and submergedEmissions Reduction: Electricity Generation and Grid Infrastructure
Electricity generation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Delaware, making up 26.9% of the state’s total in 2021. Emissions come from electricity generated both in-state and out-of-state which we use to light our homes and heat our businesses. A decarbonized electric grid serves as Delaware’s largest emissions reduction opportunity, as itEmissions Reduction: Industry
The industry sector is Delaware’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 23.1% of statewide emissions in 2021. Although industrial emissions are 7.3% lower than in 2005, emissions are projected to grow without additional action. By 2050, industrial emissions are expected to overtake transportation as the state’s largest source of greenhouse gases, highlighting theEmissions Reduction: Residential and Commercial Buildings
Delaware’s buildings are a central part of daily life and a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Because buildings vary widely in age, size and use, there is no single solution for reducing emissions. In 2021, the buildings sector produced about 14% of Delaware’s total emissions, with commercial buildings accounting for slightly more than homes.Emissions Reduction: Forests and Urban Trees
Forests and urban trees cover nearly one-third of Delaware’s land area and provide critical benefits for wildlife habitat, clean water and community well-being. They also support a strong forestry industry that employs nearly 2,000 people and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy. At the same time, Delaware is losing more thanEmissions Reduction: Waste
The waste sector accounts for a small share of Delaware’s greenhouse gas emissions – about 3% in 2021 – but remains an important part of the state’s path to net-zero. Delaware manages all of its waste within state borders through landfills, recycling facilities and wastewater treatment plants. Emissions from this sector are primarily methane andMarsh Migration in Delaware
Tidal wetlands face serious threats from rapid environmental changes. They are challenged by accelerated rates of rising water levels and increased storm surge associated with climate change. In response, these habitats have adapted a survival mechanism called marsh migration. Marsh MigrationTechnical Climate Advisors
The Technical Climate Advisors are experts from state agencies, higher education and other institutions tasked with evaluating and updating the State’s sea level rise, temperature and precipitation scenarios every five years to be used in the state Climate Action Plan and in support of other climate and sustainability initiatives. The group isClean Energy and Climate-Related Workforce Development
The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy is committed to working with partners from both the public and private sectors and across regions, to assess and develop Delaware’s workforce and economic opportunities in alignment with the state’s climate goals. Understanding the clean energy and climate-related workforce landscape is necessary to addressing the strategies and actionsClimate and Sustainability Initiatives
The DNREC Climate and Sustainability Section is charged with coordinating state actions that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and improving Delaware’s resiliency to climate change impacts. They use technical assistance, financial incentives, policy development, pilot projects and education initiatives to meet this charge. The Division isNotice of Public Hearing: Weatherization Assistance Program Federal Funding Application
The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy will conduct a public hearing on March 13, 2025, to consider comments from the public on the annual Weatherization Assistance Program federal funding application.Sustainable Planning
A community sustainability plan is a road-map for making a community a socially fair, economically strong, and environmentally healthy place to live, work, and play. Community Sustainability Plan Developed in consultation with community members, a community sustainability plan is a long-term plan to help the community realize its collective sustainability goals.Energy Security and Emergency Planning
Energy security planning helps achieve a robust, secure and reliable energy infrastructure that is also resilient. Delaware must be able to restore services rapidly in the event of any disaster. Energy security accounts for responses to disruptions as they occur (extreme weather, infrastructure failure) and for long-term measures that reduce overall risk to and vulnerabilitiesLandscape-Scale Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure is a nature-based approach that uses a combination of engineering and nature’s own systems to address environmental challenges like erosion, flooding, and air and water pollution. fa-leaf fa-fw fa-3xSite-Scale Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure is a nature-based approach that uses a combination of engineering and nature’s own systems to address environmental challenges like erosion, flooding, and air and water pollution. fa-leaf fa-fwGreen Infrastructure Basics
Green infrastructure is a nature-based approach that uses a combination of engineering and nature’s own systems to address environmental challenges like erosion, flooding, and air and water pollution. fa-leaf fa-fwWeatherization Assistance Program
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) offers a free Weatherization Assistance Program to help establish comfortable, energy-saving homes.Contact Us
Application Assistance 302-504-6111 All Other Questions 302-735-3480
