New Jersey can inoculate itself against the dismantling of climate policies by the Feds

New Jersey can inoculate itself against the dismantling of climate policies by the Feds

On January 14, Governor Murphy delivered his final State Address, urging the legislature to act on his Executive Order 315 to achieve 100% clean electricity in New Jersey by 2035.

We are now living in the Anthropocene era, during which human actions have significantly impacted the Earth. Policies that promote mass consumption and reckless material production have caused widespread environmental degradation. This damage has led to global atmospheric heating due to greenhouse gas emissions and other climate pollutants. As a result, New Jersey and the rest of the world face profound changes in climate patterns, threatening residents' health, communities, businesses, environment, and way of life.

Last year was the hottest year on record.

“Taking this step is not merely about reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. This is also about securing our state’s energy independence — and creating good-paying, union jobs in the clean-energy industries that will power our future.” — Governor Murphy

The dedicated funding for NJ Transit that establishes a corporate transit fee of 2.5 percent on businesses earning more than $10 million in annual net profit will need to be reauthorized every five years. The public will need to be educated on the benefits of this funding.

“We have created new, dedicated funding streams to support the future of NJ TRANSIT.”—Governor Murphy

Given President Trump’s efforts to dismantle U.S. initiatives aimed at addressing the climate crisis (which includes bicycling and public transit), it is critical for the New Jersey Senate and Assembly to codify Executive Order 315 into law. If the order is not codified, it may lack the force of law and remain unenforceable. It is also imperative that a climate movement that includes an education component is implemented to guard against misinformation on Climate Science.

This is especially urgent in light of the federal rollback of climate action under President Trump’s administration that began day one of his administration where he proclaimed the US (again) was leaving the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Orange Climate Con
Trump’s inauguration was a horrifying spectacle. “We will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to my great American auto workers…In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your

From CNN:

“We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it,” —President Trump