Urge New Jersey to Adopt REAL Climate Change Rules

IMPORTANT for All New Jersey residents and those that enjoy New Jersey’s beaches, lakes and rivers

In Brief:

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE RULES FOR NEW JERSEY and your support is needed before the November 7^th deadline!

NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has proposed new regulations designed to protect the state and its residents from climate threats such as sea-level rise, coastal storm surge, flooding, and stormwater management, while also improving water quality, protecting natural resources, and streamlining the permitting processes for resilient investments in New Jersey’s communities and economy. These proposed regulatory changes are entitled:

Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL).

These rules are based on peer-reviewed, widely recognized and documented climate science. 

The REAL rules will:

• Promote the nature-based solutions and green infrastructure that we should be employing
• Guide the way we build so that we’re not throwing money away and putting even more people in danger
• Add increased protections for all communities statewide that are developing and redeveloping by requiring stronger stormwater management
• Encourage us to look to the best science to inform our future plans, and they have the potential to save lives.

Say it ain’t so:

As hard as that is to believe, there are many influential people and organizations using inaccurate and mis-information to lobby Governor Murphy attempting to stop these new rules from being passed as proposed. Fortunately, NJDEP is responding with facts. It is hard to believe that these lobbyists have already forgotten the devastation and loss of life that Isaias (2020), Ida (2021) and Sandy (2012) caused. But, how can they possibly not see what just happened in North Carolina and Florida and think that New Jersey does not need to do everything it can to pro-actively save lives, reduce property loss and protect our natural resources?

Every $1 spent on climate change prevention saves $13 in damages. (US Chamber of Commerce)

SAMPLE LETTER.
You may submit this letter to NJDEP. We encourage customizing the letter.

Dear Governor Murphy and Commissioner LaTourette,

For the past few weeks, the entire nation has watched in horror as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton destroyed communities across the Southeastern United States, from Florida to Virginia. More than 200 Americans are known to have died, with nearly 100 people still missing. Millions of people across the region lost power for extended periods and communication was difficult across rural communities. The recovery process will be extraordinary and will likely take several years.

New Jersey is no stranger to destruction from more frequent and intense storms. In 2021, Hurricane Ida caused about $2.02 billion in damage and killed 30 New Jersey residents. Hurricane Sandy was one of the deadliest and the costliest natural disasters in the history of New Jersey, killing 38 people and causing economic losses of up to $30 billion.

The science is clear. New Jersey has seen a 71% increase in extreme storms over the past 50 years. In addition to changing rainfall and storm patterns, we can also anticipate a five foot sea level rise in New Jersey by 2100 under even a moderate emissions scenario.

We, the undersigned, strongly support the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threat (NJPACT) regulations to ensure not only coastal but all communities are resilient and built to withstand the storms we know are coming–and are already here. The Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) amendments will help residents and businesses mitigate the destructive impacts of climate change.

These rules were developed using the best available science, vetted by experts, and it is critical we commit to the five-foot projection to protect our property and save lives. Additionally, these changes will support wildlife habitats, benefit businesses, enhance stormwater management, improve water quality, and increase resilience across communities in New Jersey, not only on the coast.

There has been rampant misinformation, and it is important to emphasize that the rules do not create “no build” zones, but ensure that buildings and infrastructure are built above flood levels that incorporate sea level rise. The rules will also not crush economic development or stifle job creation. A recent report from the US Chamber of Commerce states that every $1 spent on climate resilience and preparedness saves communities $13 in damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact. Preparing today not only decreases the potential destruction that we will face, but it simply makes the most economic sense. We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned that there has been discussion that NJPACT rules would stifle affordable housing. All New Jerseyans are entitled to dignified, safe, affordable housing - and it is imperative that housing should not be located in areas that are at risk of flooding or permanent tidal inundation.

These rules are not a silver bullet solution to keep us and future generations safe from these more frequent and more extreme rain events, but they are a necessary first step to building our resilience against these storms.

We urge you to advance these vital rules, and to reject any efforts to delay, block, or weaken them, ensuring that New Jersey communities and the environment are protected from the worst effects of climate change. They are based on the strongest scientific and expert studies and are designed to protect New Jersey homes, lives and businesses. We cannot afford to keep our communities at risk any longer.