MURPHY ADMINISTRATION TO PROMOTE “JERSEY STRONG ON CLIMATE”

Public education campaign will run during Climate Week 2020, September 21-25

(20/P39) TRENTON – As part of the international promotion of Climate Week 2020, the Administration of Governor Phil Murphy will promote “Jersey Strong on Climate,” a weeklong virtual public education campaign led by the Department of Environmental Protection intended to help inform the public about the current and future climate threats New Jersey faces and the Administration’s actions to reduce and respond to climate change.
Each day from Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 25, DEP will share content that examines one of five core areas: sea-level rise and resilience, changing landscapes, temperature change, clean air, and flooding and water quality. Social media content will be presented on the DEP Twitter and Facebook pages, with scientific and educational material available at: www.nj.gov/dep/climatechange/.
“New Jersey is strong and resilient. We adapt. We come together in times of crisis, and we don’t back down from a challenge,” DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said. “Although Climate Week events around the world have gone virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all learned from this crisis that we must follow the science and act with urgency to respond to the next one before us. New Jersey has not and will not stop leading in how we confront the climate crisis.”
“During Climate Week 2020, we look forward not just to sharing the science that shows clearly the challenges New Jersey faces, but to promoting the Murphy Administration’s initiatives to reduce the emissions that fuel climate change while also ensuring that we build a stronger more resilient New Jersey, ready to manage the climate threats that are here and will unfortunately worsen,” DEP Deputy Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said. “Educating ourselves and one another about the realities of climate change is a team effort and we welcome our partners to share this vital information with their audiences and the public.”

Jersey Strong on Climate will use social media as the primary platform during Climate Week, focusing on a different impact of climate change to New Jersey each day next week: Monday, Sept. 21: Sea-Level Rise. Sea-levels are increasing at a greater rate in New Jersey than other parts of the world and it is happening now. How we plan for and adapt to this challenge will determine what we leave to future New Jerseyans. Tuesday, Sept. 22: Changing Land From wildfires in western states to impacts to New Jersey’s agriculture, climate change is already altering how we live, work and eat. Wednesday, Sept. 23: Rising Temperatures. New Jersey is the country’s most densely populated state and increased temperatures will impact New Jerseyans’ health, especially in urban areas. Thursday, Sept. 24: Reducing Emissions. Climate change is the result of our emissions of greenhouse gases and other climate pollutants. New Jersey is taking bold steps to reduce those emissions through planning, adaptive regulation, and increased investments in technologies, like electric vehicles, that build our economy and improve our environment. Friday, Sept. 25: Flooding and Water Quality. Whether by ocean or our many rivers and bays, most of New Jersey is surrounded by water. With rising tides and increasingly extreme weather, New Jersey must become more resilient to worsening flooding, while also protecting the quality of our waterways that fill our cups and fuel economic activity.

To review the 2020 New Jersey Scientific Report On Climate Change and discover more about the DEP’s response to current and future climate threats, visit www.nj.gov/dep/climatechange/. Celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2020, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is dedicated to protecting New Jersey’s environment and public health. The agency prioritizes addressing climate change, protecting New Jersey’s water, revitalizing its communities and managing and promoting its natural and historic resources.
For the most recent information about the DEP, follow its Twitter feed at @NewJerseyDEP or visit www.nj.gov/dep.