NJ Sierra Club Joins Senator Booker and Congressman Pallone to Discuss Climate Threats to Atlantic Ocean Health 

Long Branch, NJ – Yesterday, the Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter joined Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) at a roundtable to highlight legislation to permanently ban offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. Last month, Pallone and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) reintroduced the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act that prohibits the U.S. Department of Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas along the Atlantic Coast, including the North, Mid-, and South Atlantic and Straits of Florida planning areas. Booker is an original co-sponsor of the bill.

“We thank Congressman Pallone and Senator Booker for stepping up to protect the health of our ocean, particularly marine wildlife that has been severely under threat due to the climate crisis, shipping vessels and plastic pollution. As the ocean warms due to climate change, many marine species are moving to new areas with more favorable conditions, leading to changing prey distributions and potentially increased interactions between whales and humans. These movements have led to an increased number of whales dying from fishing entanglements and ship strikes particularly around the NY Bight where we have one of the busiest ports in the country,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director for the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Instead of unfairly blaming offshore wind to serve fossil fuel interests, we must pursue real solutions to protect marine wildlife such as finalizing strong vessel speed restrictions and curbing the impacts of climate change. One of the best ways we can fight climate change is through the equitable and safe development of renewable energy through our bedrock environmental laws and regulations.”

###