Environment New Jersey Joins Sen. Booker, Rep. Pallone & NJDEP Commissioner LaTourette for Shore Roundtable on Ocean’s Largest Threats

Long Branch – Environment New Jersey, along with a set of state and regional environmental leaders, scientists and fishermen, joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6), and NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette for a Earth Week roundtable discussion on the largest threats facing the ocean, the real threats facing the marine ecosystem, the impacts of climate change on ocean ecology and the potential for offshore wind to provide clean, renewable energy.

Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey, spoke at the Shore roundtable and delivered this following statement:

“The climate crisis is already knocking on our door and more than 10 years after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the Shore, extreme weather fueled by climate change is increasingly becoming common across the Garden State, from coastal and inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. The largest threat is in our coastal communities, which are most vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges.

Offshore wind is our best strategy to reach our clean energy mandates and to reduce climate pollutants in line with climate scientist’s recommendations. We face a binary choice — continue to rely on dirty fossil fuel power plants and offshore oil drilling – or expand clean, renewable energy sources like offshore wind.

Climate change is the largest threat our oceans are facing and expanding offshore wind off the Jersey Shore can help to move us to a clean renewable energy future. Senator Booker and Rep. Pallone have been ocean and climate leaders for decades – we are grateful for their leadership urging action to fight climate change and protect our oceans.”

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