A new study based on data from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows New Jersey with 9 communities among those in the nation with the greatest percentage of homes at risk of chronic flooding by 2060 and 2100. Hoboken is ranked No. 2 on the list, trailing only Miami Beach, Florida. Atlantic City is ranked No. 3. The report was produced by 24/7 Wall Street, and ranked the 35 cities most threatened by sea-level rise.

“New Jersey is one of the most vulnerable states in the nation to impacts from sea level rise and climate change. There are many communities and neighborhoods in New Jersey that are going underwater on a regular basis. This new report is a wakeup call that we need to do more to mitigate effects from climate change. Hoboken and Atlantic City are in the top 3 of cities most threatened by sea level rise. They will be virtually uninhabitable by 2100. The Murphy administration needs to start acting much more aggressively to combat climate impacts and improve our resiliency,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Other NJ communities that ranked in the top 35 at risk include Ocean City (12), Ventnor City (16), Pennsville (24), Little Ferry (26), Brigantine (29), Margate City (32) and Secaucus (35). Atlantic City is projected to be 92 percent underwater by 2010.

“New Jersey has 7 other cities among the top 35 in this study. That’s 20 percent of the list. Evidence of sea level rise is already apparent in many of these communities. Streets are going underwater during full moons. Sewers are backing up, and even on sunny days flooding is occurring on high tides. A Zillow study found there are 61,000 homes in New Jersey now in jeopardy of flooding, and in 30-40 years that number can reach 250,000,” said Tittel. “The Murphy administration shows no sense of urgency to strengthen adaptation and mitigation programs. We are the only state in the region without a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan. We must reopen the Office of Climate Change and the Office of Climate Adaptation and Management.

Sea level rise has caused some of our land to sink and salt water intrusion into our groundwater. Rutgers predicts the coast will see a 1-foot increase in sea level by 2050. We are also now 17 times more likely to be hit with another storm like Hurricane Sandy. This will put our coastal and flood-prone communities at greater risk.

“The UCS study reminds us of the need for more urgency. There are some immediate actions New Jersey can take to make our coasts and other flood-prone areas more resilient. Murphy can create a cabinet level committee to coordinate all agencies in coastal resiliency and reducing greenhouse gases. This includes updating regulations, doing hazard planning, and buying out flood-prone properties. Under CAFRA we have areas underwater still listed as growth areas, such as Mystic Island and Gandy’s Beach. Those rules need to be changed. Creating a Coastal Commission would allow better planning for regional development. New Jersey must also use up-to-date data for our maps and coastal development planning. Without the latest science, we can’t elevate to proper heights or predict sea level rise correctly,” said Tittel.

According to the UCS study, nearly 30 percent of Hoboken homes will be at risk of chronic flooding by 2060. In Atlantic City, more than 50% of land that’s currently habitable is projected to be underwater by 2060. By 2100 the amount of habitable land underwater will reach 93 percent.

“We are in a climate crisis. Climate change impacts are worse and happening faster. Every major scientific study tells us that. Oceans are warming 40 percent faster than previously believed. As sea levels continue to rise, it’s not just coastal communities that are threatened. Urban areas like Hoboken are also among the most endangered. The governor says he supports action on climate change. Then he should put a moratorium on all fossil-fuel projects. If the 8 proposed pipelines and 5 proposed power plants are built, greenhouse gases will increase 32 percent,” said Tittel.

As climate change worsens, the Murphy administration continues to leave in place many rules put in place by Gov. Christie that weakened coastal protections. This includes rollbacks to the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) and Coastal Zone Management rules by adding more loopholes and waivers.

“Many of our coastal cities face grave threats from rising sea levels. However the Murphy administration has done nothing to change rules put in place under Gov. Christie that have rolled back coastal protections. They are still using weakened rules like the Flood Hazard Rules, Waiver Rules, Stormwater Rules, and CAFRA rules that encourage development and cause more flooding and pollution and put people more at risk,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Our cities are under siege from the impacts of sea level rise and climate change. Without aggressive action to combat those impacts, more and more homes will soon be underwater.”