TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey legislature is currently considering seven climate change bills. These bills represent the state’s efforts to mitigate the effects of global warming and support sustainability.
The first bill, A576, aims to establish a Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Financing Program in the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, proposing a per-kilowatt-hour charge on electric energy consumption to finance related projects.
The second bill, A5011, would amend the Fiscal Year 2023 annual appropriations act, prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for certain state litigation related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
A third proposal is AR56, a resolution urging the Governor and Attorney General to pursue legal action against fossil fuel companies for damages caused by climate change.
The fourth bill, AR142, is a resolution that encourages lending institutions in the state to cease financing projects that contribute to climate change.
The fifth bill, S1530, requires hazard mitigation plans to include climate change-related threat assessments and hazard prevention, as well as mitigation strategies.
A sixth resolution, SR81, also urges lending institutions in the state to stop financing projects that contribute to climate change.
These proposals are part of New Jersey’s ongoing effort to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices. The consequences of climate change, including intense storms, weather extremes, heat waves, wildfires, and flooding, are addressed through various strategies and regulations in these bills.