Markell unveils plan to combat climate change

Gov. Jack Markell on Monday outlined a new plan, a year-and-a-half in the making, to reduce by 30 percent Delaware's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and to better plan and prepare for the most likely impacts from climate change.

The team that prepared the plan looked at dozens of worst case scenarios, from the impact of hotter days on police dogs – and the atmospheric fallout from idling cruisers to keep the K-9s cool – to how to combat mosquito-born diseases like Dengue and Chukungunya fevers in a Delaware that is hotter and wetter.

And then there was the flooding from extreme rains, coastal storms and rising sea level; the impact on forests, farms and wetland and the toll to vulnerable populations like people with disabilities.

"I know it's easy for people to say this isn't real," Markell said.

He pointed out that the state has already spent "millions and millions of dollars" to address climate impacts from pumping sand on beaches to repairing dikes in northern Delaware's flood-prone cities.

"This is your money, this is taxpayer money," he said. "We all see this so personally."

Markell said he would "never forget the day before [Superstorm] Sandy."

Then-state environmental chief Collin O'Mara called and said, "You've got to come with me."

"We went out to see some of the dikes around New Castle, Markell said. Then, O'Mara gave him some bleak news: "If this doesn't hold; that water, it's just going to keep going."

Markell said "we have so many vulnerabilities throughout the state. I understand this is a tough issue. ... some would like to kick it down the road."

The governor told a group of state officials, legislative and municipal leaders and folks from the environment and conservation communities that the discussion needs to take place now.

The plan will be posted on the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control website and public comments will be accepted through May 30.

The plan made state agency leaders rethink the way they approach planning from the fiscal year to fiscal year approach to one that looks 10 to 20 years into the future, said David S. Small, secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

"This is really just the start," said Small, who led the state cabinet committee that developed the planning and resilience document. Small said the idea is to provide state agencies with more decision-making tools than they have had before.

The plan, outlined at a press conference at the American Birding Association headquarters in Delaware City, was developed as a result of Markell's Executive Order 41, signed in Sept. 2013.

The governor asked cabinet leaders to prepare for emerging climate impacts and both the causes and consequences of climate change. Markell's instructions to his team encouraged them to look at the economic possibilities of preparing for climate change and to tackle both a state plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – a contributor to climate change – and steps to make the state more climate change and sea level rise resilient.

"It's hard to predict exactly what those changes could be" especially with agriculture, said Ed Kee, the state agriculture secretary. "Our farmers and foresters are very adaptable."

Under the plan, agriculture officials would look at and plan for both the increase risk of forest wildfires and increased hot and dry days on farming operation, and educate coastal landowners about mitigation and land loss due to sea level rise and salt water intrusion.

The plan sweeps across state agencies from education and economic development to health and social services.

School districts, for instance, need to make sure they aren't building new schools on sites that are subject to flooding. State Department of Transportation officials plan to assess roads and bridges that are vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The stakes are high in Delaware because it is the lowest lying state in the nation, said Nancy Targett, Dean of the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. And the sea level is rising.

The target for greenhouse gas emission reductions will come from a 2008 baseline. Through existing programs, the state is well on its way to meeting the 30-percent reduction goal but those remaining reductions – 1.14 megatons – will be targeted based on a plan that is expected to be developed and completed over the next several months.

One issue is that a key source of emissions is from automobiles and light duty trucks. Delawareans drive a lot.

Markell and other state officials said that much has already been done to address climate change and sea level concerns but better planning is needed, he said.

"It's all about education," said Lewes Mayor Ted Becker. "People hear things when they are ready."

Reach Molly Murray at 463-3334 or mmurray@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @MollyMurraytnj.

Link to the plan: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/Pages/Climate-Framework.aspx