November 15, 2019
Margot Walsh
Executive Director
Jersey Shore Partnership
101 Crawfords Corner Rd.
Bldg. 1 Suite 1-511
Holmdel, NJ 07733
732-718-6274
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 89 Establishes Proactive Measures
to Address Climate Change in New Jersey
On the 7th anniversary of Sandy, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 89 establishing a Climate and Flood Resilience Program within the Department of Environmental Protection. Dave Rosenblatt, formerly Assistant Commissioner of Engineering and Construction, was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Climate and Flood Resilience and the State’s first Chief Resilience Officer. New Jersey, as a coastal state, is especially vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise, increased temperatures and flooding, potentially with disastrous consequences for public health and safety. The Executive Order is a very ambitious and comprehensive directive to address multiple segments of the changing environment due to climate change.
A DEP Interagency Council on Climate Resilience will work with the Resilience Officer to develop a Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy that will strengthen New Jersey’s communities, infrastructure, economic sectors, and natural resources. In addition to stakeholder input into the recommendations, the Executive Order states that all of us – communities, businesses, industries, and government agencies – have responsibility for making smart decisions in our lives that minimize the impacts of climate change.
Importantly, the Strategy will include a much needed long-term Coastal Resilience Plan to address the devastating impacts of climate change from sea level rise, increased storm surges, coastal and inland flooding. A serious storm-free summer season allows us to forget the ravages of Sandy. However, the coast is our first line of defense in protecting people, property, infrastructure and our economy. A successful resilience plan must address the need for adequate funding to meet its resilience objectives.
The Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy is to be delivered to the Governor by September 1, 2020. It is essential that State government and stakeholders work collaboratively to address the increasing impacts of climate change on our quality of life and the future economy and health of our residents.
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