SC Responds to NJBIA & CIANJ Misleading Climate Report

A new report opposing NJDEP’s Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT) land use regulatory changes has been released by business groups that oppose the new rules. The report was commissioned by the NJ Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ). The report falsely alleges that the DEP used inappropriate data to determine climate risks and that the PACT land use regulations will hurt New Jersey’s economy. In response, Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, released the following statement:

“The NJBIA and CIANJ commissioned this report to get the outcomes that they want, which is to try to undermine the DEP’s PACT land use regulations. This report is full of misinformation and spin. It was hired by these special interest groups, it isn’t an independent report by independent people. They cherry-picked the data to match the results that they want. They are now basically sea-level rise deniers, ignoring the facts while trying to pave over New Jersey and make flooding worse.

“Their conclusion that data that DEP is using is inappropriate goes against what all the other scientists and reports are saying. Climate reports have been coming out for 20 years, which is why we have the Global Warming Response Act and the PACT process. One of the things we’ve learned from the reports over the years is that things are worse and happening quicker than we originally thought. This past year we saw at least 10 reports from top scientists about climate change, land use, and sea-level rise in New Jersey. These included reports from Rutgers, NOAA, First Street Foundation, and the NJDEP itself.

“A new FSF report showed that there are already 94,146 residential properties in the state that have a substantial flood risk. Another recent report by Zillow found that New Jersey is number two in the nation as the most vulnerable state when it comes to sea level rise and climate change. We are developing in risk zones two times faster than safer locations and are top three for allowing the most homes in risk zones. Rutgers data shows that sea-level rise could be anywhere between 5 and 8.8 feet by 2100. Their data found that sea-level rise of 7.5 feet would affect nearly 580,000 people and $180 billion of property. Despite the worst case scenario data by Rutgers of 8.8 feet by 2100, the DEP’s land use regulations take the moderate number of 5 feet by 2100 to calculate flood risk zones.

“The NJBIA and CIANJ’s misleading report ignores all of the alarming climate data for New Jersey. We are already one of the fastest-warming states in the country and things are going to get worse faster. New Jersey’s temperatures have increased by 3.5 degrees and will only continue to go up, and we have the highest short-term warming trends. These temperature increases leave New Jersey more vulnerable to flooding and fires. NOAA ound that sunny day flooding in New Jersey is well above the national average and will continue to go up. DEP’s climate report projects sea levels rising anywhere from 5.0 to 8.8 feet by 2100, which is alarming because our barrier islands are only 3 feet above sea level.

“This new report by NJBIA and CIANJ shows that any land use changes in New Jersey will be attacked by builders and special interests. They are going to oppose everything that the DEP comes out with because they just want to pave over New Jersey. These are the people who worked under the Christie Administration to help roll back environmental regulations and make New Jersey more vulnerable to climate impacts. They were cheerleaders for Christie as he rolled back important regulations like CAFRA and the Flood-Hazard Rules, putting more people and property at risk.

“The NJBIA and CIANJ are trying to undermine a program that really needs to be strengthened to meet the climate urgency. The PACT land use rules are a good step forward, but they don’t actually go far enough. The rules are still ‘build at your own risk.’ This means that people will still be building in the wrong places and putting people and property at risk. We are dealing with unprecedented weather, unprecedented storms, and unprecedented damage from climate change. This is the time when we have to take the best science and move us forward to deal with climate change.”