NJDEP Releases Scientific Report Detailing the Impacts of Climate Change on New Jersey
The
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) released its first
Scientific Report on Climate Change in June. The report covers the latest and
most reliable science to explain how climate change will impact New Jersey.
Current Impacts
New Jersey is already experiencing the effects of a changing
climate through increasingly mild winters, more intense rainfalls, flooding
along inland streams and rivers, and more tidal flooding along our coast.
The Executive Summary of the Report notes that increasing
greenhouse gas concentrations have contributed to a 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit
increase in New Jersey’s average temperature. This is a faster increase than
the rest of the Northeast region and the world.
Another item of note is that tidal flooding
events have already increased. These events occurred less than once per year in
the 1950s; between 2007 and 2016, they occurred an average of eight times per
year.
What's to Come
The report suggests that projected warming will result in
longer and more frequent heat waves. Annual precipitation is also expected to
increase by 2050 and occur in more intense rain events that could result in an increase
in localized flooding. Sea level rise will also contribute to increased coastal
flooding during sunny days and storm events, which would impact infrastructure,
residents and businesses.
How We're Preparing Now
ACUA operates critical infrastructure that must be protected
from the impacts of climate change. Our Wastewater Treatment Plant in Atlantic
City, NJ, treats an average of 28 million gallons of wastewater every day,
which is essential to keeping our local waterways clean. To protect the facility
during future storm events, ACUA has implemented multiple resiliency projects
including the construction
of a seawall around the facility, investments
in inflatable barriers and portable generators, upgrades to emergency power
systems and more.
ACUA is proud to have established itself as a community
leader in protecting the environment through the implementation of green
initiatives. Energy produced through wind
turbines and solar panels
is used to operate our wastewater treatment plant. We have worked to green our
fleet of vehicles by converting our collection trucks to compressed
natural gas (CNG), incorporate electric vehicles
and installed electric vehicle charging station across our facilities that are
open to the public. To learn about more of our green initiatives, click here.
What You Can Do
The NJDEP report underlines the importance of the ongoing
work municipalities, green teams and local organizations are doing to protect
the environment. We can all do our part by reducing the amount of waste
we create, recycling correctly,
choosing renewable energy and more.
Thinking about climate change can be overwhelming, but this
report helps us understand how our region will be affected. The impacts of
climate change threaten our property, public health, safety and economy.
Gaining an understanding of the impact helps the State better prepare and adapt
for the future.
You can read the 2020 New Jersey
Scientific Report on Climate Change online. NJDEP has more information
located on their website
covering how the State is working to address and mitigate the impacts of
climate change through reducing emissions of climate pollutants and preparing
for the climate impacts New Jersey cannot avoid.