Climate change affects our environment, our economy, and our way of life. It’s a very real challenge we must address, not a theoretical possibility to be debated. Increasing temperatures, changes in rainfall and rising sea levels are happening now and will become more serious in the future – impacting everything from our farmers’ crops to the infrastructure upon which our people and businesses rely.

While reducing the effects of climate change is a global challenge, we must do our part in Delaware and I’m proud of the progress we’re making. We’re reducing dirty air emissions through investments in cleaner, more reliable, and more efficient energy. We’re also preparing for inevitable climate impacts by protecting wetlands and shorelines, developing better flood plain standards and restoring coastal impoundments and dikes along the Delaware River and Bay. But more work lies ahead and we need your help.

Now through May 30, we are seeking public comment on recommendations unveiled this past week. The Climate Framework for Delaware proposes a wide range of actions to protect public health and safety, strengthen the state’s facilities and infrastructure, and improve our capacity to deliver services to Delawareans in a changing climate. I encourage you to visit delaware.gov/climateframework to review the recommendations and offer your input and ideas. It’s said, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

Climate changes impact all of us and we all have a responsibility to take action. By working together, we can make Delaware more resilient to climate impacts, protecting our people, places and natural resources, and leaving the world better than we found it. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

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