Even if we promptly halt all human activity that affects climate, changes have already been set in motion, and we will continue to feel the impacts of rising seas, increases in intense precipitation, extreme heat and drought, and other environmental alterations. 

The world is changing, and we will need to adapt to meet these changes in a thoughtful, environmentally positive, and socially equitable manner. Climate adaptation involves changing the way we do things in order to minimize the negative effects of a changing climate. Keeping areas that are expected to flood free from development, significantly reducing impervious surfaces that cause stormwater runoff, designing and investing in infrastructure that’s climate-ready, restoring and supporting natural systems that keep air and water clean, and fostering climate awareness and leadership are examples of climate adaptation that will keep us safer, our communities healthier, and our economies stronger.

Climate resilience is the ability to recover quickly and fully from climate-related issues or events, instead of simply reacting to them as they occur. It involves having the appropriate laws, policies, and procedures in place so that state and local responses can be effective and swift when there is a climate-related event. It also means that communities are proactively assessing their climate vulnerabilities and developing strategies to address them—before a damaging event occurs. It’s a framework to continually engage with the dynamic set of conditions that a changing climate brings through an ongoing process of learning from and redesigning for the impacts of climate change.

An intentional focus on racial and economic equity is central to how New Jersey Future approaches climate adaptation and resilience. The existing disparities in health, income, wealth, and access to resources that plague New Jersey translate into disproportionate climate vulnerability for those communities and individuals who are already experiencing the effects of racial and economic discrimination. Resilient and sustainable communities can only be achieved through equitable and just solutions.

New Jersey Future has been an active partner in formulating solutions for climate adaptation and resilience by working to:

• Advance local and state policies and practices
• Develop technical guidance for state and local action
• Assist communities in their resilience efforts