Smith, Greenstein Bill to Require Climate Vulnerability Plans Signed into Law

Trenton – Legislation requiring local governments to include climate vulnerability in the municipal master plans was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy. The bill was sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Linda Greenstein and Assemblymembers Nancy Pinkin, Dan Benson and John McKeon.

“New Jersey is one of the most vulnerable states in the nation to climate change,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset), Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. “In my own district, we will see much more frequent flooding along the Raritan River, similar to what we saw during Superstorm Sandy. Climate change, will be with us for the foreseeable future and because of that, we need to make sure our towns and our cities are prepared.”

“Much of New Jersey is susceptible to the effects of climate change, from the flood plains in Central Jersey to the low-lying Shore towns and the wild-fire prone forests of North and South Jersey,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Vice-Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. “These scenarios should give us more than enough reason to start planning immediately, so we can mitigate the effects of climate change before it is too late.”

The law will require that the land-use plan section of a municipal master plan include a climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment. The assessment will consider the environmental effects associated with climate change on all aspects of a municipality. Examples of environmental effects are temperature rise, drought, flooding and sea level rise. The plan will also have to contain ways to mitigate natural disasters.

This law expands upon a 2017 law, authored by Senator Smith, which requires municipal master plans to include ways to implement smart growth such as electric vehicle charging stations, storm resiliency for energy facilities and flood-prone areas, and environmental sustainability.