Governor Jack Markell's Weekly Message - January 6, 2017
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Governor Jack Markell's Weekly Message - January 6, 2017 - Addressing threats of a changing climate
Our state has repeatedly proven that protecting our environment also protects and strengthens the health and prosperity of our citizens, communities, and economy. We’ve led the region in job growth after cleaning up our power sector. And the connection between our environment and our economy is clearer than ever as we deal with the increasing impacts of climate change: rising temperatures, increased rainfall and sea level rise that put our citizens, businesses and resources at risk. We’ve taken important steps to address this challenge by cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, while investing in renewable energy. And we’re making our low-lying state more resilient through projects like dike and beach restorations up and down our coastline.
This progress must continue. It’s why I issued an executive order requiring state agencies to identify ways to emit fewer greenhouse gases, save energy, and prepare for warming temperatures. In the coming days we’ll release our Climate Action Progress Report on how we’re doing. It shows that we’ve invested in vehicles that use cleaner fuels, strengthened our infrastructure and increased energy efficiency. This past week, we recognized DNREC’s main facility – built in 1881 –for LEED certification in efficiency and sustainability. These actions should be celebrated, but they also represent a blueprint for moving forward and achieving our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, as well as protecting our state from increased flooding and stronger storms – goals supported by the vast majority of Delawareans. You can read more at: de.gov/climatechange.
Together, we can continue to prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change, supporting Delawareans’ health and safety, promoting economic opportunity, and addressing one of the greatest threats to the future of our state, our nation, and our planet. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.
Governor Jack Markell's Weekly Message - January 6, 2017
Addressing threats of a changing climate
Our state has repeatedly proven that protecting our environment also protects and strengthens the health and prosperity of our citizens, communities, and economy. We’ve led the region in job growth after cleaning up our power sector. And the connection between our environment and our economy is clearer than ever as we deal with the increasing impacts of climate change: rising temperatures, increased rainfall and sea level rise that put our citizens, businesses and resources at risk. We’ve taken important steps to address this challenge by cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, while investing in renewable energy. And we’re making our low-lying state more resilient through projects like dike and beach restorations up and down our coastline.
This progress must continue. It’s why I issued an executive order requiring state agencies to identify ways to emit fewer greenhouse gases, save energy, and prepare for warming temperatures. In the coming days we’ll release our Climate Action Progress Report on how we’re doing. It shows that we’ve invested in vehicles that use cleaner fuels, strengthened our infrastructure and increased energy efficiency. This past week, we recognized DNREC’s main facility – built in 1881 –for LEED certification in efficiency and sustainability. These actions should be celebrated, but they also represent a blueprint for moving forward and achieving our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, as well as protecting our state from increased flooding and stronger storms – goals supported by the vast majority of Delawareans. You can read more at: de.gov/climatechange.
Together, we can continue to prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change, supporting Delawareans’ health and safety, promoting economic opportunity, and addressing one of the greatest threats to the future of our state, our nation, and our planet. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.