Trenton, NJ – Today Governor Murphy signed S-3215 / A-4606 into law which requires the DEP, BPU, and all state agencies to use a 20-year time horizon in addition to a 100-year horizon to more accurately calculate the global warming potential of greenhouse gas emissions.
"Fracked gas is not a bridge to the future, it is a drive off the cliff,” said Eric Benson, Campaign Director, Clean Water Action. "It is much more potent than carbon on a shortened time frame. All the climate science says we have until 2030 to reduce emissions and using the 20-year time horizon will better guide state policy."
Today, the NJ Senate and Assembly are also considering the electric vehicle bill. S-2252 / A-4819 fast tracks electrification of the state's transportation sector, responsible for over 40% of New Jersey's current climate footprint.
"Vehicle missions are literally burning up the planet and killing people," said Amy Goldsmith, State Director. "Too many New Jerseyans especially in environmental justice communities suffer from respiratory and cardiac disease. Electrifying personal vehicles and NJ Transit buses will be a huge step in the right direction"
At the same time, the state still has more to do to combat the climate emergency we face. "The state’s regulatory agencies need to establish a black carbon rule, regulate other greenhouse gases more effectively, adopt a much stronger Energy Master Plan than the draft released 6 months ago, and electrify our ports - all essential ingredients to address the science that calls for a 45% cut in climate pollutants by 2030," said Goldsmith.
The bag ban (S-2776 / A-4330) passed it’s final vote in Senate just today, and the rail car safety (S-1883 /A-3783) bill has already passed in the Senate. Both bills need their final vote in the Assembly. “Unfortunately, without action in the legislature today, additional important climate bills like the statewide bag ban and rail car safety will have to start over from scratch in the new term,” added Benson.
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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. We will protect clean water in the face of attacks from a polluter friendly Administration and Congress. Clean Water Action has nearly 1 million members nationwide. www.cleanwater.org/nj