The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released their

State of the Climate

report. The report showed above- to much-above-average autumn temperatures from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic region. New Jersey is listed in the top 10 fastest-warming states in the country, with warming trends strongest along the coast. Atlantic City temperatures were the 6th warmest recorded temperatures in that area of the state this

November.

“This new report is alarming and shows that things are getting worse faster. New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the country while also being one of the states most vulnerable to climate change impacts. This is downright scary because New Jersey does not see the sense of urgency and is doing very little about it. We are seeing climate impacts every day with chronic flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise. Water pollution and rising temperatures have led to algal blooms closing our biggest lakes, like Lake Hopatcong, and invasive clinging jellyfish overtaking our waterways like Barnegat Bay,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This report is even more alarming because even though Trump denies climate change his administration is releasing reports showing dramatic climate change impacts. NOAA is standing up and doing their job. The fact that this report comes from the Trump administration should be an alarm bell going off.”

The report shows that New Jersey has the second highest average temperatures after Rhode Island, with an increase in average temperatures by 3.49 degrees compared with the 20th-century norm. Delaware and New Jersey were tied for highest increase in average temperatures in the contiguous United States over a five-year period ending this past October. Central and South Jersey counties have some of the highest temperature increases in the region. Almost all NJ counties had temperature increases over 3 degrees. Atlantic County had the highest warming of any other counties at 3.3 degrees.

“New Jersey’s temperatures have already increased by 3.5 degrees and will only continue to go up, and we have the highest short-term warming trends. These temperature increases leave New Jersey more vulnerable to flooding and fires. The Pinelands are extremely at risk for wildfires because of climate change, leading to more dislocation of species. A recent Zillow report shows that we are top three in the nation for developing homes in risk zones. DEP released a report projecting sea levels rising anywhere from 5.0 to 8.8 feet by 2100, which is alarming because our barrier islands are only 3 feet above sea level. All the reports are pointing to extreme climate impacts, but we are still building in vulnerable areas,” said Tittel. “This is the umpteenth report coming out about climate change, and the Murphy Administration are still not hearing it.”

There have been multiple recent reports showing how vulnerable New Jersey is to climate change impacts. A few weeks ago, the Department of Environmental Protection released a study projecting dramatic sea-level rise in New Jersey of up to 8.8 feet over 2000 levels by 2100. A different study based on data from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows New Jersey with 9 communities among those in the nation with the greatest percentage of homes at risk of chronic flooding by 2060 and 2100.

“We are still building in vulnerable areas and granting permits under Christie-era regulations that don’t protect against climate change or storm impacts. Some of the worst areas for flood risk are in Ocean County where they are just growing and building. Other areas in New Jersey like Cape May County, Monmouth County, Avalon, and more have built the most new houses in risk zones in the nation,” said Tittel. “Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order for a statewide climate change resiliency plan but with no implementation. It is not strong enough when it comes to being prepared and stronger than the next storm. Now that the Murphy administration have more facts on the imminent danger of sea level rise and climate impacts, they need to do something about it.”

We’re already seeing the impacts of climate change in NJ and it’s getting worse. Fish are already living in storm-drains in LBI. Some roads go underwater every time there’s a full moon and we’re losing coastal wetlands at an alarming rate. According to the Washington Post, New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the nation. Its average temperature has climbed by close to 2 degrees Celsius since 1895 — double the average for the Lower 48 states.

“There are some direct and immediate actions that the Murphy Administration can take in the meantime to begin strengthening NJ. Murphy can create a cabinet level committee to coordinate all agencies in coastal resiliency and reducing greenhouse gasses. This includes updating all state regulations to include climate impacts, re-doing the Water Supply Master Plan, and using up-to-date data in our mapping and planning, and buying out flood prone properties,”said Tittel. “The Murphy Administration need to move forward on strengthening important water protections and regulations including the Flood Hazard Rules, Water Quality Management Planning Rules, CAFRA and Wetlands.”

Climate change is happening and happening even faster. UN Climate Report warns of a global tipping point by 2030 so it is even more important to reduce greenhouse gases as quickly as we can. Our state has the ability to regulate greenhouse gasses but has yet to do so. If the DEP were to begin regulating, including a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects, we could prevent making climate impacts worse.

“In order to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gasses, we must take bold action against fossil fuels. That is why Governor Murphy must put in place a moratorium on all new fossil fuel projects. There are over a dozen fossil fuel projects proposed in New Jersey that would increase GHGs by over 32%. We need to be focusing on renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, that does not release harmful pollution that exacerbate the effects of climate change,” said Tittel. “Governor Murphy talks a lot about climate change, but other states are running circles around him. Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Inslee are going 100% carbon free by 2040 and by 2030.  Eight states are going 100% renewable by 2050, even states with Republican governors like Maryland, Vermont, and Mass. are moving quicker on electric vehicles and regulating CO2.”

The Trump Administration is making our situation worse by attacking the environment and climate change protections on a national level. He has weakened 24 air pollution rule. He pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement and disbanded the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment. He also revoked Obama-era orders to make infrastructure and building standards incorporate sea level rise and flooding projections. He has eliminated the Clean Power Plan, revoked the California Clean Waiver Rule, and increased limits on methane leaks.

“Study after study are showing that New Jersey is one of the most vulnerable states on the East Coast, if not in the nation. It is clear that New Jersey is Ground Zero for climate change between sea levels rising a projected 5 to 8.8 feet, 4,524 homes in a 10-year risk zone, and a 3.49 degree temperature increase. Our state is still dragging its feet and we must take extreme actions to plan for climate change and sea level rise. We need real action from Governor Murphy, not more press releases and executive orders. We must stop offshore drilling, unnecessary pipelines, and fossil fuel expansion by committing to 100% renewable energy by 2050,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Nature is already planning for us with flood after flood. We need to act and act now. We must build a green wall around New Jersey to fight back against climate change and protect us from the next storm.”