Earth Day is Here and So Is Climate Change- Need Action Now

Environmental groups across New Jersey have joined together at a press conference outside the statehouse asking the legislature and Governor Murphy to move forward on New Jersey’s environmental agenda before it’s too late. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, released the following statement:

“Today marks the 49^th anniversary of Earth Day. As we look toward this Earth Day, we recall how the activism of the first Earth Day in 1970 led to the creation of the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and the formation of the EPA. The Sierra Club has been involved in every Earth Day since the first Earth Day. Now we have a climate crisis that’s getting worse. Sea levels are rising and we have more extreme weather. Students and people are again becoming active because of the urgency of climate change, however nothing is moving in New Jersey State legislature and Murphy Administration when it comes to protecting this Earth’s clean water, clean air, and open space. It’s Earth Day and the DEP failed to hold a celebration or event, that is why we are here to tell them they need to do more.

“When it comes to making New Jersey resilient to climate change and making our state greener and cleaner with renewable energy, our government has fallen way behind. New Jersey has not passed critical legislation that would move electric vehicles into gear. The DEP is still sitting on millions of Volkswagen money that should have been used already to help EV infrastructure. Legislation regarding fixing our solar market has been dismal the BPU have not lifted a finger to prevent the solar market from crashing. Governor Murphy has not signed legislation, or the DEP have not proposed effective rules and regulation on climate change.

“Over the years, funding for critical programs that protect our environment have been cut and the legislature and Murphy Administration have failed to restore that funding. The DEP budget itself is not sufficient enough to do the job the department is supposed to do. NRD and CBT money is not going towards helping improve our parks. Governor Christie’s rules the Flood Hazard and Waiver Rule still have yet to be rolled back.

“New Jersey’s water has serious problems with lead and plastic. The state’s lead problem is a multi-billion dollar problem that the DEP have yet to find funding for. There are several lead mitigation bills in the legislature that still have not been passed. Our plastic waste problem has not only become an environmental issue, but also a health one. There is a comprehensive bill in the legislature for a statewide ban but it has unfortunately stalled.

“There are currently 5 new powerplants and 8 new pipeline projects in New Jersey that would impact our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a clean energy future. Combined, these powerplants and pipeline projects could emit more than up to 100 million metric tons of greenhouses gases into our air. The SRL pipeline has already started construction despite being in court and the BPU have done nothing to stop it. Governor Murphy’s goals of 100% renewable energy by 2050 will be completely undermined if these proposed fossil fuel projects are built however Murphy has yet to put forward a moratorium.

“Climate impacts will only get worse unless we do something about it. We need to move forward and aggressively because the planet as we know it is at stake. This Earth Day we need to see a new commitment that could lead to important climate legislation and the Green New Deal becoming a reality. NJ needs to take bold action on climate change and that’s why Governor Murphy needs to put in place a moratorium on all fossil fuel infrastructure. New Jersey also needs to stand up to Trump’s rollbacks on the environment. Our legislature also need to move forward on passing legislation so we can accelerate to get to 100% clean energy, create new green jobs, and have a NJ version of a Green New Deal.”