For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
NJ PACT Rules Need to be Implemented, Now.
Commissioner Shawn Latoruette testified at the Assembly Budget Committee hearing last week to update the committee about the department’s work and possible needs. Instead of discussing what kind of budget the Department needs to carry out its duties to protect our air, water, and land, the committee questioned the importance of the NJ Protecting Against Climate Threats Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) Rules.
Taylor McFarland, Conservation Program Manager, made the following statement:
“Some members of the Assembly Budget Committee missed an important opportunity to grasp the budget needs of the NJDEP. Rather than assessing the effects of unprecedented federal cuts and the reduction of essential environmental grants and programs, committee members focused on the potential financial implications that the necessary NJ PACT REAL Rules will have on businesses. A clear indication that the priorities of some of the committee members clearly lie in business profitability rather than in protecting the people of NJ.
“Business interest groups continue to raise false alarms to legislators about the NJ REAL Rules to create unnecessary panic. They continue to try to manipulate the conversation about the REAL rules, which is why we saw a wasted committee hearing. Businesses need to realize the NJ PACT REAL Rule is for their benefit; businesses themselves are at risk for major climate impacts that can cause them to lose everything.
“The REAL Rules are not just regulations, they are our lifeline to a resilient future. They are crucial in integrating climate change impacts into our regulatory process, enhancing protections for our coastal areas, improving stormwater programs, and safeguarding our critical wildlife habitats.
“Given climate change and rising sea levels, some of New Jersey's fastest-growing places are the most vulnerable. A study based on data from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that nine communities in New Jersey are among the nation's with the greatest percentage of homes at risk of chronic flooding by 2060 and 2100. Current projections indicate that as much as 5.1 feet of sea-level rise is likely by 2100, and nearly two-thirds of New Jersey’s coastline is at a high or very high risk of coastal erosion.
“After witnessing the devastating effects and the loss of life from major storms like Hurricane Sandy, Irene, and Ida, it is more apparent than ever that our state needs to adopt these rules as soon as possible to best protect people and property from the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.
“Our homes and communities are on the line, and these rules are crucial to keeping New Jerseyans safe and improving stormwater management. Independent reports from Rhodium’s Energy & Climate team estimate that over $15 billion worth of homes and buildings are now likely to flood at least once a year.
“The REAL Rules provide vital solutions needed to tackle the challenges of climate change. They will modernize how we build more resilient infrastructure that protects nature and people from the looming threats of climate change. The rules increase protections for all communities statewide and encourage us to use the best science to inform our future plans. We ask the administration to make sure to move forward with the strongest version of the rules. They have the potential to protect our valuable ecosystems, vulnerable infrastructure, and the lives of our New Jersey residents.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.