Climate and Energy

There is growing recognition, in New Jersey and across the world, that global warming is a serious problem that will require action in the coming years and decades. Add to this the recent spike in fuel prices and more and more people are talking seriously about hybrid cars, renewable energy, green building technology and other ways to reduce greenhouse gases and conserve energy. There is one crucial piece of the puzzle, however, that is often omitted from this conversation: the role of land use in influencing carbon emissions.

Land use—the decisions we make about where and how to develop—has a profound and lasting effect on our greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. And unlike cars or appliances, which can be replaced every few years if a newer, more efficient model comes along, the decisions we make about how to develop, and the impacts these decisions have on climate and energy, will be with us for generations. Poor land-use decisions not only lead to poor outcomes today, but they also limit our ability to reduce these impacts far into the future.

Future Facts

New Jersey Future Sends Letter to Governor Urging Him To Sign Stormwater Utility Legislation

February 27, 2019 by Elaine Clisham

New Jersey Future Executive Director Pete Kasabach has sent a letter to Governor Murphy urging him to sign the Clean Stormwater and Flood Reduction Act, which would permit local government entities to establish stormwater management utilities.

New Jersey Future Submits Comments on Proposed Stormwater Rule Amendments

February 4, 2019 by Louise Wilson

New Jersey Future submitted comments on proposed changes to the NJDEP’s stormwater management rules, praising the emphasis on green infrastructure and offering recommendations for making the rule clearer and more effective.

Group of Mayors, Organizations Sends Letter Urging Gov. Murphy To Renew Focus on State Plan

February 1, 2019 by Elaine Clisham

A group of 18 mayors and organizations concerned with how New Jersey grows and develops has sent a letter to Gov. Murphy urging him to renew focus on the State Plan.

New Jersey Future Statement on Passage of the Clean Stormwater, Flood Reduction Act

January 31, 2019 by New Jersey Future staff

New Jersey Future applauds the Legislature’s Jan. 31, 2019, passage of the Clean Stormwater, Flood Reduction Act, and encourages the governor to sign it.

From Stormwater to Clean Water: New Flood-Control, Pollution Resource for Towns

November 5, 2018 by Louise Wilson

A new toolkit from New Jersey Future offers advice and resources to help elected officials maximize the opportunities to use green infrastructure to help control flooding and polluted runoff.

Articles and Stories

NJDEP Issues Sewer Permits That Will Launch Generational Investments

03/12/2015: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today issued final permits to the 25 cities and utilities that operate combined-sewer systems (CSSs), a first step to updating decrepit infrastructure, minimizing flooding and keeping raw sewage from reaching public waterways.

What’s Next After Rebuilding? Making Resilience Happen

An afternoon symposium Oct. 30, 2014, in conjunction with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, focuses on how to advance, and pay for, increased resilience in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Approved for 2 AICP CM credits.

Webinar: Understanding Coastal Vulnerability

A one-hour webinar explaining a new, parcel-based tool that assesses financial vulnerability to coastal flooding and sea-level rise. Friday, May 15, 2015, noon – 1:00 pm.

In Deep: Helping Sandy-Affected Communities Address Vulnerability and Confront Risk

An interim report, three years after Hurricane Sandy, on New Jersey Future’s groundbreaking local recovery planning manager program, including lessons learned and recommendations. October 2015.