The outrageous ignorance of N.J.’s climate-skeptic lawmakers puts us at risk | Opinion

By Jennifer M. Coffey

We just closed a month of celebrations for Earth Day — and I am outraged.

Members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation and the state Legislature have engaged in peddling the obvious delusion that New Jersey can escape the devastating toll on our economy, environment, and the very safety of residents impacted by the climate crisis by ignoring science.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., has asked the Trump administration to interfere with New Jersey’s right and responsibility to protect the livelihood and very lives of residents. Members of the Legislature promoted scientific skepticism and outright denied climate facts as they questioned New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette during budget proceedings in April.

The controversy is all over a set of proposed regulations named NJPACT REAL — New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats, Resilient Environments and Landscapes. These rules are designed to keep people from drowning to death in their homes just as 25 New Jerseyans died in Hurricane Ida.

More than 15 years ago, I met with scientists and policy experts asking the same question: How can we accurately predict the flooding that we know is going to happen so that we can write regulations that build new homes and businesses in ways that are more resilient and protect public health and safety?

It took more than a decade, increased computing horsepower, and enhanced models such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Atlas 14, but we did it. We now have data and modeling that analyze the collapsing Arctic vortex (that’s why we sometimes get Arctic blasts in New Jersey now) and the collapsing Gulf Stream ocean current that holds major influence over weather on the East Coast of the U.S. and West Coast of Europe. We now have a very accurate understanding of the increase of both precipitation and sea level rise for New Jersey through the year 2100.

The NJPACT REAL regulations simply require new development and redevelopment standards to prepare for the flooding that is happening and that we know will happen through the year 2100. The NJPACT REAL rules will require that new development be elevated above the areas that will flood. States like Florida have already passed similar regulations.

When Van Drew and local lawmakers come wielding false accusations about the validity of the science and emotional appeals crying financial hardship for millionaire and billionaire friends — saying that these rules will cost too much money — they are asking everyday New Jerseyans to put their very lives and livelihoods on the line for other people’s profits.

When elected officials cast doubt on the science, it’s either because they don’t understand it or they want to ignore it.

The truth of the matter is: New Jersey experiences a $1 billion weather event on average every 32 weeks. From 1980 to 2024 (as of Sept. 10, 2024), there have been 72 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion in damages each to affect New Jersey communities, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

New Jersey residents know we have flooding problems. The NJPACT REAL rules are a commonsense approach that says we simply need to build new development above and out of the way of flooding.

The data that informs the flood elevation levels in the NJPACT REAL rules are moderate rather than an “extreme” approach as Rep. Van Drew claims.

What he doesn’t understand or rather doesn’t want you to understand is that the extreme scenario for climate flooding impacts New Jersey predicts nine feet of sea level rise, and NJPACT REAL takes a moderate approach and plans for five feet.

Climate change is not a belief system. It’s science.

Now is the time we in New Jersey need to activate our resistance to the anti-science agenda. Gov. Phil Murphy needs to stand up and fight back.

New Jersey needs the NJPACT REAL rules to save lives. We need the NJPACT REAL rules so we can be both Jersey strong and Jersey smart.

Calling your elected representative in the state Assembly or Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your state Assemblymember and Senator to voice your position, go to the New Jersey Legislature website’s Legislative Roster.

Jennifer M. Coffey is executive director for the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions.

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