Finally, A First Step on Climate Change- More Needs to Get Done Quickly
Finally, A First Step on Climate Change- More Needs to Get Done Quickly
On the 7th Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order to establish a Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy and to create the Climate and Flood Resilience Program within the Department of Environmental Protection and an Interagency Council on Climate Resilience. The plan is supposed to be completed by September of 2020. The Administration also joined legislators and Mayor Bhalla who presented Hoboken’s resiliency project. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:
“On the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order for a statewide climate change resiliency plan. This plan is long overdue. The transition team asked Murphy to do this day one given the climate urgency. It is a good step forward when it comes to being prepared and stronger than the next storm however we still have a long way to go to completing the resiliency plan. What is even more concerning is that climate impacts are getting worse. A new study released today has found that much of the state, including inland counties, are more vulnerable to climate impacts now compared to before Sandy. We need less talking and more action from the Murphy Administration if we want to keep our heads above water.
“A statewide resiliency plan is a good step forward; however it won’t make a difference if New Jersey keeps developing in high risk flood prone areas. Since 200, New Jersey has allowed the most homes in flood risk zones, more than 9,000. Some of the worst areas for flood risk are in Ocean County where they are just growing and building. Other areas in New Jersey like Cape May County, Monmouth County, Avalon, and more have built the most new houses in risk zones in the nation. DEP is also allowing for a disastrous sewer plan in Fortescue. Sewers are backing up, and even on sunny days flooding is occurring on high tides. Sea level rise has caused some of our land to sink and saltwater intrusion into our groundwater. Rutgers predicts the coast will see a 1-foot increase in sea level by 2050. We are also now 17 times more likely to be hit with another storm like Hurricane Sandy. More development will put our coastal and flood-prone communities at greater risk.
“Governor Murphy doesn’t show a sense of climate urgency. He says he believes in climate change, but he is still using the same Christie failed policies and have not moved forward on strengthening them. The DEP must update our water protection rules such as our Flood Hazard Rules, Wetlands Rules, and Water Quality Management Planning Rules. They must also update new FEMA flood maps for sea level rise, update building codes, and start to implement adaptation and hazard planning as part of their resiliency model. We need more funding for buyouts to restore natural systems such as stream corridors, wetlands and dunes. Building codes need to be updated, and we need to advance energy efficiency.
“New Jersey is the only state on the east coast that does not have any kind of sea level rise climate adaptation plan. Sea walls, dikes, and pumping sand will not work. In metropolitan areas like Hoboken, we need to have a holistic approach to flooding in Hoboken and a sea wall won’t work. We cannot just put a mote around the city to solve all of its problems. We not only need to look at Jersey City and Weehawken, but the whole New York Harbor. We believe mechanisms to reduce flooding like green roofs and flood storage are good, but we also need buyouts to put people out of harm’s way.
“We must start taking real actions to fight climate change now. We are still the only state in the region without a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan. We need to move forward with a Coastal Commission and use the latest science to put climate and sea level rise in DEP rules and state legislation. DEP also need to update our adaptation for sea level mitigation program, our shore protection plan and fix CAFRA loopholes.
“While the Murphy Administration are moving forward on a resiliency plan for the state, they are still moving forward with fossil fuel pipelines and power plant. In order to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gasses, we must take bold action against fossil fuels. That is why Governor Murphy must put in place a moratorium on all new fossil fuel projects. There are over a dozen fossil fuel projects proposed in New Jersey that would increase GHGs by over 32%. We need to be focusing on renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, that does not release harmful pollution that exacerbate the effects of climate change.
“New reports show that tidal flooding and hurricane flooding in New Jersey are increasing and so are its costs. Things are getting worse and more dramatically. The Murphy administration needs to start acting much more aggressively to combat climate impacts and improve our resiliency. There are many communities and neighborhoods in New Jersey that are going underwater on a regular basis. As the population of coastal communities keeps growing, the potential for disaster will be greater. Planning for resiliency is a start in the right direction, however the DEP has a lot of work to do to make sure New Jersey is prepared for a sibling of Superstorm Sandy. If we don’t act now, we are all going to need snorkels.”
