2030 is the new 2050 when it comes to the climate crisis

Local groups are taking legal action to hold legislators accountable for the climate crisis.

EmpowerNJ, a coalition of over 120 environmental groups sued the Murphy administration for its failure to take action for the climate crisis. The lawsuit highlights the disconnect between the Administration’s words and actions.

Last September (after Hurricane Ida), Governor Murphy officially declared reducing GHG by 50% by 2030 (50×30) in Executive Order 274. However, NJ’s Department of Environmental Protection denied a petition by EmpowerNJ to put the executive order into action.

The coalition states that few of the administration’s current or proposed rules will prevent pipelines, power plants or major climate polluters.

“The Governor and his DEP must recognize the urgency to measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions and they must specifically demonstrate how NJ plans to achieve what Governor Murphy says he wants – a 50% cut back by 2030. Furthermore, the state simply cannot rationalize issuing permits for greenhouse gas-emitting projects by saying it is “impractical” not to. It’s not practical for residents to drown in basement apartments nor for our communities to face catastrophic loss either,” said Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network in a press release.

“Neither DEP nor the Governor has offered a rational explanation for why, if the state’s stated policy is to reduce GHG’s by 50%, DEP is refusing to recognize that policy and take action needed to implement it. The Governor must order not only DEP, but all other State agencies, to take the steps needed to reduce GHG pollution by 50% by 2030,” said John Reichman, Chair of BlueWaveNJ’s Environment Committee.

Photo: Dark Path, Absecon, NJ by Iago Godoy on Unsplash

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher