[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2026[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]

Contact: Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
Vincent Grassi (609) 984-1795

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MURPHY ADMINISTRATION MARKS RESILIENCE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH RELEASE OF INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE UPDATE

(26/P04) TRENTON – The Murphy Administration today released an annual update of climate resilience work being undertaken by state agencies to better protect properties, lives, infrastructure, natural resources and the economy from the impacts of a changing climate.

In addition to providing important updates on a wide range of state climate resilience efforts, the second annual New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience report highlights the longstanding commitment by the Murphy Administration to advance science-based solutions, strong partnerships and public engagement to address climate threats.

“The Interagency Council’s continued work demonstrates our commitment to increasing the state’s resilience and taking action to protect future generations by planning for the impacts caused by climate change,” said Governor Murphy. “New Jersey’s commitment to combating and adapting to climate change is unwavering. I am confident in our continuing, collaborative work to protect our natural resources and build a more sustainable future.”

“New Jersey remains on the front lines of experiencing the impacts of climate change but has not wavered thanks to first-in-the-nation reforms to protect our communities, economy and the public,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. “The work of the Interagency Council is groundbreaking and ongoing, creating strategic and lasting change that will enhance our quality of life for years to come.”

“I’m deeply grateful to my agency partners who have devoted their time to the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience over the last six years,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer. “Together, we are making real progress in preparing for and responding to climate change impacts here in New Jersey. I look forward to continuing that work in 2026 and beyond.”

field workers“Disasters are becoming more frequent and more complex as our climate changes, and the best time to respond is before they happen,” said Acting State Director of Emergency Management and Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz. “Emergency planning brings together people, resources, and information so communities can act quickly, protect lives, and recover faster. Planning ahead ensures we are ready to act the moment an emergency begins, not after it is already unfolding.”

“As weather events become more frequent and severe in New Jersey, it is essential for communities to proactively plan and put into place strategies that can help mitigate the effects of natural disasters,” said Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “The Interagency Council’s work has produced resources that communities can use in this effort such as the Resilient Communities grant program for public infrastructure projects and the Smart Move initiative to help people relocate to neighborhoods with a lower disaster risk. Preparation is key and these resources allow municipalities to better adapt to the changing climate.”

The Interagency Council on Climate Resilience

Governor Murphy established the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience (Interagency Council or IAC) by Executive Order 89 in 2019, creating a venue to address climate change resilience across all state agencies. The Interagency Council, initially formed with 17 executive branch agencies, has expanded to 26 member agencies and departments, underscoring the importance of resilience in every sector of the state’s economy and environment.

In 2025, the IAC published the New Jersey Statewide Flood Resilience Initiatives report, which coincided with the state’s first-ever Flood Safety Week in August. The Interagency Council also incorporated new action commitments into New Jersey’s Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan, released in November.

Other highlights involve the advancement of special projects across three key workgroups working to better understand the climate needs and concerns of New Jerseyans, improve messaging related to extreme heat preparedness, and improve interagency coordination and information-sharing regarding climate-related risks and vulnerabilities.

Building a Broad Resilience Legacy

Over the past eight years, Governor Murphy has worked to mitigate the impacts of climate change – a significant threat to the state’s natural resources and environment, public health, infrastructure, security, and economy. Through a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, the Murphy Administration has been working decisively to implement science-based policies and strategies to protect residents, businesses, and communities from worsening climate impacts.

DEP has made progress in several areas, including:

Following the Science:

  • The landmark 2020 Scientific Report on Climate Change, and subsequent updates, synthesize the latest and most reliable scientific information on the current and predicted future impacts of climate change on New Jersey, providing essential information for taking action to make the state more resilient and reduce greenhouse gases linked to climate change and impacts to human health. An addendum to the report on climate change impacts to human health and communities followed in 2022 and a comprehensive update to the report was finalized in 2025.
  • The Rising Seas and Changing Coastal Storms study, commissioned by DEP and prepared by Rutgers University and leading climate change experts, provided critical information on projected sea-level rise in New Jersey, concluding that it is increasing in the state at more than two times the average global rate.

Making the Coastline More Resilient:

  • DEP follows science-based modeling to address sea-level rise and to ensure that coastal communities understand the need for more resilient infrastructure that can withstand future climate change conditions, such as increased and repetitive flooding events.
  • Through flood resilience infrastructure projects such as Rebuild By Design-Hudson, Rebuild By Design-Meadowlands, Storm Risk Reduction Projects at Port Monmouth and Keansburg, and the Union Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, as well as ongoing beach nourishment projects, the DEP continues to ensure that coastal communities are protected from increasingly severe storms through robust beaches, dunes, and infrastructure.

Helping Communities Become More Resilient:

  • More than 70 local governments are participating in resilience planning efforts coordinated through DEP’s Resilient NJ program, which supports the development of local and regional resilience action plans that use the best available climate science to plan for climate change impacts.
  • DEP’s Blue Acres voluntary buyout program enables homeowners to sell their flood-prone properties to the state, relocate to safer areas and create open space that serves as a buffer against future storms.

Addressing Inland Flooding and Aging Infrastructure:

Through the State Revolving Fund and I-Bank funding programs, the Murphy Administration has provided more than $212 million through the New Jersey Water Bank to help communities upgrade antiquated local stormwater and drinking water infrastructure to better handle increased and more intense precipitation events.

Advancing Climate Change Mitigation:

  • Through auction proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon dioxide cap-and-invest program, New Jersey has invested more than $230 million in climate change, clean energy, and equity programs across the state since 2020.
  • More than $54 million in funding through DEP’s Natural Climate Solutions grant program has been made available to create, restore, and enhance New Jersey’s natural carbon sinks through projects such as tree plantings, living shoreline creation and salt marsh restoration.

Protecting the Public from the Impacts of Extreme Heat:

  • New Jersey’s Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan for the first time in state history is coordinating actions across state agencies to help the public take action to be better protected as the climate continues to warm.
  • The user-friendly online resource Heat Hub NJ makes it much easier for the public, particularly vulnerable populations, to become more resilient to the impacts of extreme heat.

Responding to Growing Wildfire Risks:

  • As climate change makes wildfire seasons longer and more unpredictable, the Murphy Administration launched NJ Wildfire SMART (Safety, Mitigation, Awareness, Response, Training), a series of actions that emphasize steps and informational resources for reducing wildfire risk and spread.
  • DEP’s Forest Fire Service targets treatment of 25,000 acres of forest and grasslands annually through a proactive prescribed fire program. Prescribed fire mitigates the risk of more frequent and intense wildfires in a changing climate, enhances habitats for plants and animals, and safeguards ecosystems.

Making Ecosystems More Resilient:

  • Developed in partnership with Rutgers University, the Coastal Ecological Restoration and Adaptation Planning Tool provides the locations of at-risk areas, coastal resource restoration sites, and other data to help coastal municipal planners and non-profit organizations coordinate coastal restoration projects that support the health of coastal ecosystems.
  • DEP Fish and Wildlife, in collaboration with conservation partners, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Office of Maritime Resources, is advancing nature-based solutions—such as the beneficial use of clean dredged material—to restore and enhance wildlife habitat within New Jersey’s Wildlife Management Area System. Hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat have been restored to date, including habitats critical to threatened and endangered species.

Accomplishments of the Past Year

The IAC publishes a new annual report at the start of each year, documenting progress and successes from Council membership. Among some of the 2025 Annual Report’s highlights:

Flood Safety:

In July 2025, it released the first Statewide Flood Resilience Initiatives report in conjunction with New Jersey’s first-ever Flood Safety Week.

As storm events in the state become more frequent and intense, coastal and inland flooding risks increase significantly. The flood report summarizes the many programs and projects being implemented to make residents and communities more resilient to flooding, and highlights programs and initiatives undertaken by 26 state agencies to reduce the state’s risk of damage and destruction from floods.

Drought Awareness:

Below-average precipitation levels for more than a year have led to multiple information initiatives to educate the public about drought conditions and how to protect drinking water supplies statewide.

Commissioner LaTourette in November 2024 issued an Administrative Order putting the state in Drought Warning and calling for voluntary water conservation. The order was lifted in June 2025, but worsening dry conditions led Commissioner LaTourette to designate Drought Warning status again in December, which remains in place. He has noted that precipitation and water supply uncertainty in New Jersey for more than a year is a symptom of climate change.

DEP consults with water suppliers to ensure no single supplier or region faces a significant shortfall if dry weather and high customer demand continue. Weekly updates on precipitation and drought conditions are also provided here.

Extreme Heat:

To address extreme heat in densely developed areas with limited green space, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities launched the Urban Heat Island Mitigation Grant Program in 2025, a $5 million program awarding $50,000 grants to help the state’s most vulnerable communities develop cooling projects that mitigate extreme heat.

Urban heat islands occur in cities and densely developed areas where concrete, pavement, and buildings retain heat and green spaces are limited. Cities such as Newark, Trenton, Camden, and Jersey City are among the Northeast’s most intense urban heat islands, often registering temperatures 5 degrees to 20 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than surrounding areas, leading to public health risks, increased energy bills and additional stress on power grids.

Climate Science Report Update:

The DEP, along with colleagues at Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Human Services, published the 2025 New Jersey Scientific Report on Climate Change which summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the observed and projected effects of climate change on New Jerseyans and the environment.

The report identifies and presents the best available peer-reviewed scientific research to inform the current and anticipated challenges of climate change with an emphasis on New Jersey. Some key components of the report include updated sea-level rise, temperature, and precipitation trends and projections.

For more information about climate change and the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience, visit https://deptest.nj.gov/climatechange/science/ and https://deptest.nj.gov/climatechange/resilience/resilience-council/

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