Policy Brief

May 2016
New Jerseys Initiatives to Combat and Adapt to Climate Change
Jessica Maliszewski, Sustainability
student at Stockton University

Contact: maliszej@go.stockton.edu

Issue

What can be done?

Climate change is an apparent change in

global climate patterns from the mid
twentieth century onwards and is accredited
largely to the increased levels of
atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the
use of fossil fuels, and in the Garden State is
not something to be taken lightly. During the
last century New Jersey has experienced
rising temperatures, increased precipitation,
more frequent severe weather, and rising sea
levels. History and science prove that New
Jersey is facing climate change at a rapid
pace. Although the state and its citizens
cannot stop climate change completely, they
can slow it down. The state of New Jersey
should be combating this global dilemma
step by step to preserve the planet, slow
down the process, and lead the way for other
states to do the same.

There are a number of things that can be

done in order to slow down the process of
climate change and allow the population to
adapt to it, although this policy brief
summarizes two main things that can be
done to solve this problem.

Policy Implications
In 2011 Governor Chris Christie opted out
of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
(RGGI), which promotes a clean-energy
future with lower greenhouse gas emissions.
It is a market-based emissions trading
program that uses a cap-and-invest model to
reduce pollution.
Without being a part of the initiative or
implementing a policy that encourages
businesses and the public to lessen the blow
of this huge global effect, our environment
in New Jersey will not be able to sustain as
many people as our over-populated state
currently does.

Re-enter the RGGI

New Jersey governor, Chris Christie,
decided to withdraw the state from the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This
initiative sets a cap for total emissions of
CO for electric generation facilities in the
region. Power plants in the participating
states are required to hold one tradable
emissions allowance for each ton of CO
they emit. They obtain emission allowances
through quarterly auctions or can purchase
allowances from other holders, meaning
companies can sell their emission
allowances to other companies who need
them in order to keep their plant running,
because they are releasing more carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere.
This program has shown to be effective
states have seen a decrease in carbon
emissions from the power plants of more
than 45 percent. Not only does this program
reduce carbon emissions, it is also good for
the economyduring 2009-2011, New
Yorks $327 million in auction proceeds
resulted in $326 million in net economic
benefits, as well as 4600 job years, and $200
million savings on bills, proving that the
initiative is not only great for our planet, but
also great for our states wallet.

Policy Brief
May 2016
New Jerseys Initiatives to Combat and Adapt to Climate Change
Adapting to the Change
New York is an excellent model to look at
when taking steps to be greener. Governor
Cuomo signed the Community Risk
Resiliency Act back in 2014. It takes into
account future climate risks that may be
caused by sea-level rise and flooding, both
of which are of concern here in New Jersey.
The act requires state agencies to assess
future climate risks when making decisions
concerning certain funding, permitting, and
regulatory decisions.
One important part of the law is that the
Department of Environmental Conservation
needed to come up with climate based
predictions for sea-level rise by January of
this year, and the predictions are to be
updated every five years.

Atlantic City, 2016 (NOAA).

Atlantic City 30-50 years from now flooded

with 5 feet of water due to sea-level rise
(NOAA).

Conclusion
Rejoining the RGGI is an intelligent
decision for the state economically as well
as sustainably.
Also, implementing a law similar to New
Yorks Community Risk Resiliency Act, that
would take into consideration the needs of
New Jerseys environment, would be
beneficial to mediating climate change as
well as preparing cities for future conditions
that climate change will bring us.

Further Reading
This policy brief is drawn from the full
report Climate Change and New Jerseys
Coast, Jessica Maliszewski, which can be
found at mjessicaportfolio.weebly.com,
within the Artifacts.