New Jersey has been nicknamed the “Crossroads of the American Revolution.” Our state is also the crossroads for environmental action. As of January 2021, nine destructive gas pipelines and five new fossil fuel plants are currently proposed in the state. Our state is a transportation hub, with roads connecting several major metropolitan areas, a busy shipping port, and a major airport. The New Jersey Chapter volunteers are working to maintain the quality of our environment: our water, air and noise levels, our beautiful green spaces and our livable neighborhoods. The actions we take will also affect greenhouse gas emissions nationwide.
Building Electrification
Energy used in residential and commercial buildings accounts for 53.4% of New Jersey’s total energy consumption. In addition, appliances that burn fossil fuels for heating and cooking emit pollutants that are well-known to have serious health impacts. We’re working on many fronts to accelerate electrification of heating, cooling, hot water, and cooking in New Jersey’s buildings. Through consumer education and policy recommendations, we’re working to ease the clean energy transition for homes and businesses in New Jersey, especially in low- and moderate-income communities. Read more about Building Electrification.
Environmental & Social Justice
The New Jersey Chapter’s Environmental and Social Justice Committee promotes social, racial, economic, and environmental justice for low-income and overburdened communities throughout New Jersey. We aim to center equity and inclusion as we amplify the legacies and work of underrepresented and overburdened communities, and empower a new generation of environmentalists. Read more about Environmental & Social Justice.
El Comité de Justicia Ambiental y Social del Sierra Club de Nueva Jersey promueve la justicia social, racial, económica, y ambiental para las comunidades sobrecargadas y de bajos ingresos en todo el estado. Lee más.
Fighting Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Currently more than 12 big fossil fuel infrastructure projects are actively proposed in our state. If approved, they would increase greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 32%. Read more about Fighting Fossil Fuel Infrastructure.
Land Use
The never-ending pressure on New Jersey's open spaces poses threats to the aquifers that provide our drinking water, to the quality of the air we breathe, and to the land, animals and plants that support our farms and our recreation. Read more about Land Use.
Light Pollution
New Jersey’s communities are drowning in light pollution. The use of artificial light continues to increase in not only urban but suburban and even rural areas. We are working to help balance the very human fear of the dark with a recognition that our use of artificial lighting has gotten out of hand. Read more about Light Pollution.
Meeting the Climate Crisis in New Jersey with Offshore Wind
Our Chapter’s Offshore Wind Committee promotes the socially and environmentally responsible execution of proposed offshore wind generation projects off of the NJ coast. We’re part of a coalition of environmental and community-based groups, meeting with offshore wind companies to ensure that the interests of the affected communities are heard and issues with marine and wildlife are addressed. Read More about Offshore Wind.
Chapter Resolutions
The following resolutions have been adopted by the New Jersey Chapter. Read More about NJ Chapter Resolutions.
Fighting “Forever” PFAS Pollutants in our Air, Soil, and Water
PFAS are a class of chemicals that contaminates our drinking water, air, and soil. PFAS pollution is a public health crisis. PFAS persist in air, soil and water, and break down very slowly in the human body. People in New Jersey have been exposed to these chemicals in their air and drinking water for decades. In 2020 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection adopted strict drinking water standards for three chemicals in the PFAS family. We are working to combat PFAS production and contamination. Read more about PFAS.
Solar Energy for All
Governor Murphy has committed New Jersey to transition to 100% clean energy by year 2050. Solar energy is one of the key elements in achieving this goal. The New Jersey Chapter has been working to promote solar power on many levels. Lately we are working to promote community solar programs that help ensure clean solar energy is available, even for those who can’t afford panels or don’t own their own homes. Read more about Solar Energy.
Transportation
Gasoline and diesel cars, trucks, ferries and airplanes contribute 45% of the greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey. The New Jersey Chapter’s Transportation Committee is working to help reduce these emissions on multiple fronts. Read more about Transportation.
Zero Waste
Zero waste is a waste management approach that benefits people and the environment by reducing toxicity, conserving resources, and facilitating economic development in communities. Read more about Zero Waste.
Policies-Positions-Primers
This section has a wide range of Issue Fact Sheets. Read More about P-P-P.