Opening Ceremony

Climate Week Delaware 2026

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Chase Center on the Riverfront

9:30 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Opening Ceremony Host

Tynetta Brown - Host

Tynetta T. Brown

Principal Consultant

Thumbprint Strategies

Mayor John Carney

Mayor John Carney

Wilmington, Delaware

Land Acknowledgement

Iz Balleto

Cultural Program Manager

Delaware Art Museum

9:40 am

Featured Speakers

Youth Leadership

Subiksha Srinivasan Vidya

Co-Chair

YES!

Carter Lunsford

Co-Chair

YES!

Business Engagement and Climate Solutions

Yvonne Deadwyler

Yvonne V. Deadwyler

President & CEO

New Castle County
Chamber of Commerce

9:50 am

Delaware’s Path to Net-Zero

Delaware’s journey to net-zero is already underway and it’s driven by coordinated action across government, utilities, and the private sector. This panel brings together leaders from industry, local government, and county-level programs to explore how Delaware is translating climate ambition into measurable progress.

 

Panelists will discuss how data, infrastructure investment, regulatory alignment, and community-based programs are shaping the state’s emissions reduction pathway. From corporate digital sustainability strategies to municipal environmental compliance and countywide climate initiatives, this conversation will highlight the practical steps and partnerships required to achieve a resilient, low-carbon future for Delaware.

Jen Adkins - Moderator

Jen Adkins

Executive Director

Delaware Nature Society

Moderator

Jutta Pils

Jutta Pils, Ph.D., MBA

Global IT – Digital Sustainability & Product Continuity

Dupont Information Technology

Alison Quimby

Alison Quimby

Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Compliance

City of Wilmington

Larry Alston

Larry Alston

Director Business and Customer Support

Delmarva Power

Michael Harris

Michael Harris

Stormwater & Environmental Program Manager

New Castle County

10:30 am

Delaware's Climate Action Plan:
Industry Reflection and Strategic Alignment

The Delaware 2025 Climate Action Plan was released in November 2025 and notes goals, strategies, and actions the State can take to support emissions reductions, adaptation, and resiliency. The plan promotes an increase in sustainable practices including a public private partnership pilot program for proof-of-concept solutions to achieve goals established in the plan. This session will bring together Sustainability Leaders representing some of Delaware’s major industries – including agriculture, science and technology, and manufacturing – to reflect on shared climate action goals and how private industry and public planning can work together towards mitigating the effects of climate change.

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee

My Green Lab Ambassador, Principal of Sustainable Design

JacobsWyper Architects

Moderator

Robin Jenkins

Global Climate Strategy Program Leader

Corteva Agriscience

Sydney Juda

Senior Engineeering Specialist

Merck

Jacob Sneeden

Director of Regulatory Initiatives

Delmarva Power

11:15 am

Innovation Lives Here: Building the Next
Energy Economy in Delaware

Andrew Cottone

Andrew Cottone, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO

Aternium

11:20 am

Closing Remarks

Marcus Henry

Marcus Henry

County Executive

New Castle County

Event Photos

Photos courtesy of Jea Street, Jr.

PARTNERS

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