NJDEP Releases Global Warming Response Act 80 x 50 Report & Lays Out Climate Bill Roadmap

Media Contacts
Hayley Berliner

Environment New Jersey

Trenton – Yesterday afternoon, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) released the largest sources of climate pollution in New Jersey and made recommendations for how the state can reduce those emissions by 80% of 2006 levels by 2050. The Global Warming Response Act, signed into law originally in 2007 and then updated last year, directed the NJDEP to release this report indicating New Jersey’s current greenhouse gas emission levels and how the state can reach the 80% by 2050 goals.

The report outlined the seven sectors with the greatest carbon emissions, the emissions levels for the seven sectors as of 2018, the goal for emissions reductions by 2050 for each sector, and recommendations laying out how New Jersey can reach these reduction goals by 2050. NJDEP will update these recommendations every three years to address any changes in policy and available technology.

The initiatives recommended in the report fall under one of the following categories: reducing reliance on fossil fuels, expediting wind and solar energy generation, amending building codes to promote electrification, and developing statewide electric vehicle charging infrastructure to hasten the retirement of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Hayley Berliner, Clean Energy Associate for Environment New Jersey issued the following statement:

“Climate change is an existential threat, posing serious risk to New Jersey. We need to do everything in our power to mitigate and adapt to these threats.

We are encouraged by the state’s commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, and are motivated by many of the recommendations in this report. We are specifically impressed by acknowledging that we need to build out electric vehicle charging infrastructure and EV adoption so  that 100% of cars sold after 2035 should be electric.

“This report lays out a concrete plan of action, but we can’t sit back thinking the work is done. There is an incredible amount of work to do to hit these goals and significantly reduce New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

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