Murphy Administration Releases State’s First Climate Change Resilience Strategy On Earth Day

WOODBRIDGE – On Earth Day, the Murphy Administration today released a draft of the state’s first Climate Change Resilience Strategy (“Strategy”) for public review and comment. In October 2019, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 89, which appointed the state’s first Chief Resilience Officer, established an Interagency Council on Climate Resilience, and directed the Department of Environmental Protection to develop the Strategy. The Strategy outlines six state priorities, each of which includes recommendations to guide state and local government efforts to protect vulnerable communities, infrastructure, businesses, and the environment from the devastating effects of climate change. Over the past 18 months the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience has worked collaboratively to develop the Strategy, which includes over 100 recommendations to strengthen New Jersey against climate impacts, including the State’s unique risks from sea-level rise, chronic flooding, rising temperatures, and more frequent and intense storm events. “Climate change is the single greatest long-term threat currently facing humanity, and our state and economy are uniquely vulnerable to its devastating effects,” said Governor Murphy in a press statement. “Confronting climate change requires decisive and intentional action across all sectors and levels of government. The Climate Change Resilience Strategy outlines a comprehensive set of actions designed to ensure that New Jersey’s communities and infrastructure are resilient against future storms and the impacts of climate change.” Click here to read more on the statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy.