New Jersey is at the Forefront of Climate Change Adaptation

The first two months of 2020 have seen a groundswell of climate commitments from companies,  financial institutions, and state governments. The state of New Jersey is a shining example. On January 27, Governor Philip Murphy (D) released the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJ PACT) regulatory reform initiative, which will update the state’s Energy Master Plan to incorporate comprehensive provisions that protect the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase resilience. Gov. Murphy emphasized, “we are going to make New Jersey the place that proves we can grow our economy, create jobs, and fight climate change all at the same time.”

The Garden State has not always been a leader in environmental protection and health. The notorious pollution of the Passaic River is just one example of New Jersey’s long history of mistreatment of the environment due to industrial activities. During the mid-20th century, Agent Orange component chemical manufacturing along the banks of the Passaic led to public health and ecological crises. New Jersey’s strong industrial sector is also responsible for air pollution. A 2011 study noted that while air quality in New Jersey has improved since the 1980s, “the state’s small size...and its high population density...mean that mobile and stationary sources [of pollution] are generally located in proximity to populated areas.”

This historical lack of concern for the environment and public health has changed, perhaps because New Jersey residents are feeling the impacts of climate change. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the annual rate of rainfall has increased by 8 percent between 2007 and 2017, the average annual temperature has increased by 3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900, and the state has experienced 42 extreme weather events since 1980.

One of the most critical climate change threats New Jersey faces is sea-level rise; the Jersey Shore is especially vulnerable due to land subsidence caused by the removal of large quantities of groundwater from subterranean aquifers. A population density map of New Jersey shows that towns along the northern shoreline have a population density of up to 5,000 people per square mile. Given their proximity to the coast, these communities, and the buildings, infrastructure, and services on which they rely, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of sea-level rise, which, under high emissions scenarios, could increase by 1.3 feet by 2050.

NJ PACT is intended to help the state adapt to existing and anticipated climate change impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under NJ PACT, the state will implement a “comprehensive accounting of greenhouse gas emissions,” and plans to reduce emissions by “80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050.” The reform will tighten air pollution regulation on carbon dioxide, methane, and short-lived climate pollutants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and black carbon (see Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Why Are They Important?). Under NJ PACT, New Jersey plans to restore wetlands, revegetate river banks, and implement green infrastructure and green building techniques to create more resilient communities. Once new regulations are in place, state-funded building projects will need to consider how they will be affected by climate change and if they will contribute to future emissions.

To help reach the goals established by NJ PACT, Gov. Murphy updated New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, which hopes to achieve “50% clean energy by 2030, and 100% clean energy by 2050.” The new provisions to the Energy Master Plan include seven key strategies:

1. Reduce Energy Consumption and Emission from the Transportation Sector by incentivizing electric vehicles, converting existing transportation systems to electric systems, and implementing technology to reduce miles traveled and emissions;
2. Accelerate Deployment of Renewable Energy and Distribution Energy with a Focus on Historically Underserved Populations. This would be achieved by increasing offshore wind production, bolstering community solar and solar incentive programs, and boosting energy storage and efficiency. Distributed energy resources will be funded through low-cost loans;
3. Maximize Energy Efficiency and Conservation, and Reduce Peak Demand, through a variety of means, including expanding clean energy programs and financing methods for energy efficiency and storage;
4. Reduce Energy Use and Emissions from the Building Sector, mainly through increasing incentives for homeowners, “decarbonization and electrification,” and modernizing building codes;
5. Modernize the Grid and Utility Infrastructure by altering infrastructure and the rate design process;
6. Support Community Energy Planning and Action in Underserved Communities, and;
7. Expand the Clean Energy Innovation Economy, through job creation, clean energy workforce needs assessments and supporting clean energy financing, technology programs, and workforce training.

Gov. Murphy has also taken steps to collaborate with states across the country to meet climate goals. In February 2018, New Jersey joined the United States Climate Alliance, just a few weeks after Murphy officially took over as governor. Many local governments have taken similar actions, catapulting the United States into a new era of climate action. These actions show America’s commitment to combating climate change, regardless of what is happening at the federal level.

 

Author: Uma Atre