For Immediate Release
November 10, 2010 Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club Director, 609-558-9100
Governor Full of Hot Air
Governor Christie has decided to back away from sound science and common sense in a move to appease right-wing tea baggers. At a town meeting in Toms River Tuesday, the Governor said he was skeptical that man is behind the cause of global warming.
We believe this calculated move on the part of Christie to become a global warming skeptic is political. It's a deliberate move to the right - against science and contrary to the best interests to the people of New Jersey.
"Governor Christie may say he's a skeptic of climate change but we are not skeptical of his record. Over the last nine months, he has declared war on environmental protections in New Jersey," New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said.
The impacts of climate change on New Jersey are real and cannot be denied. As a coastal state, New Jersey is extremely vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges that occur from climate change. Top scientists at DEP, Princeton University, and Rutgers have provided compelling evidence that the effects of global warming on New Jersey would be devastating.
Unfortunately, taking into account this administration's record over the last nine months, it is not surprising that the Governor is setting himself up to further dismantle key efforts to stop climate change. Since he came into office, the Governor has waged an all-out war on environmental protections and the environment in general.
The Governor has not only tried to put a lid on sound science, he has eliminated funding for key programs that help promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. He has supported dangerous projects, like a proposal to for power line through the Highlands to import more dirty coal-fired power from Pennsylvania and drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
"Every major scientific study done shows that man is influencing climate change," Tittel said. "Governor Christie is full of hot air when he says he is not sure about the evidence of global warming. The only science the Governor is paying attention to is political science. He has moved to the right to appease Tea Baggers and the coal industry."
During the gubernatorial campaign, Christie criticized Corzine for not doing enough on renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. But since taking office, the governor has a dismal record on issues surrounding climate change on the environment in general. He has eliminated the Office of Climate Change and dismantled the Division of Science to a mere advisory board stacked with industry insiders. He has taken away more than $400 million from clean energy programs, which will lead to more pollution and hurt our economy. New Jersey has seen the loss of 4,000 jobs because of his cuts to clean energy programs just this year.
The governor's war on the environment includes Executive Orders, drastic cuts to the Clean Energy Fund, RGGI monies and the DEP budget, a Red Tape Review Task Force, and stakeholder meetings stacked with industry insiders.
New Jersey has always been a leader in the fight against global warming. We've seen bipartisan passage of the Global Warming Response Act and Clean Car legislation. The state sued the Bush Administration for freedom to regulate greenhouse gases. Will Christie aim to change New Jersey's policies to be more in line with the coal industry and Tea Baggers at the expense of the people?
According to research by top scientists, almost 10 percent of New Jersey could disappear as a result of global warming, including places like the Meadowlands and Barrier Islands on the Jersey Shore.
With five major floods in the last year, infestation of the Japanese Bark Beetle and other invasive species, we've already begun to see the impacts of climate change in New Jersey. The implications to our environment and economy from climate change will only increase, especially if our leaders ignore sound science for political reasons.
Climate change would devastate our $39 billion coastal tourism industry, destroy forests, and hinder our cranberry industry and as well as other agriculture industries.
"It is unfortunate the Governor is now playing politics with climate change and is doing what's in his political interest over what is best for the people. New Jersey's economy, its people, its environment, and its land will be devastated by climate change. A governor who fails to act is just putting our state in harm's way," Tittel said.
Kara Seymour, Program Assistant NJ Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609.656.7612 (f) 609.656.7618 <http://www.newjersey.sierraclub.org/> www.newjersey.sierraclub.org
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