2020 has been a year like no other: a pandemic, a grueling national election, and great uncertainty everywhere. These past few months our minds have been consumed with news, tension, and Netflix, leaving little room for much else. As the pandemic gripped the globe, other events began to slip through the cracks of our news outlets and minds. Most importantly, the state of our planet.
I am here to do two things; one, remind you that we are still living through a period of environmental crisis that we must work towards absolving, and two, that during this time of great doubt, there have been policies put in place that will have benefits beyond a COVID-19-ridden world. Here are 5 good things you may have missed in 2020 that will help safeguard our future for years to come.
January – Electric Vehicle Bill
In January, Governor Murphy signed a landmark piece of legislation, which is a bold program to electrify New Jersey’s transportation system. According to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s 2020 Climate Change Report, 42% of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, double that of the second-closest sector, electricity generation, at 19%. This plan establishes quite a few initiatives including a rebate program for electric vehicle purchases or leases. This means that the state will partially pay back residents for electric vehicle purchases or leases as long as they fit the requirements and money is still available in the funds. Additionally, the bill has ambitious goals for electric vehicle sales and public charging stations. Read more about the full scope of this bill here.
Learn more about electric vehicles and their benefits:
- The Union of Concerned Scientists
- The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- The U.S. Department of Energy
June – Climate Change Education in the Curriculum
At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, the NJ State Board of Education made a bold choice to include climate change education in its public school learning standards. New Jersey is the first state to have such a law. This push was led by First Lady Tammy Murphy and with these new standards, climate change education will be integrated into seven subject areas: 21st Century Life and Careers, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, Technology, Visual and Performing Arts, and World Languages. The requirements started this school year and can be seen on the website for the NJ Department of Education.
Learn more about how climate change will continue to affect NJ:
September – The Cumulative Impacts Bill
The first of its kind, this bill will allow the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to deny or change permits that affect “overburdened” communities. An overburdened community is a community that is experiencing unhealthy levels of pollution. They are also known as environmental justice communities. These neighborhoods are often found in lower-income areas and within inner cities such as Newark and Camden. Overburdened communities also disproportionately affect people of color. This bill is taking a step in the right direction by protecting environmental justice communities from further exploitation and environmental degradation.
Learn more about environmental justice and racism:
November – The Clean Energy Equity Act
This recently passed legislation also addresses New Jersey’s environmental justice issues. The act will establish an Office of Clean Energy Equity in the Board of Public Utilities. This new office will ensure that New Jersey’s overburdened communities are receiving equitable benefits of clean energy technologies and programs. Under the act, the office will establish specific community-based programs, including job training, community solar, and energy efficiency technologies. Senator Singleton, a co-sponsor of the bill explained that “[s]purring clean energy investment through smart policy is a modern, community-centric solution to the growing jobs crisis. It is also a way of providing environmental and economic justice to these communities that have shouldered the heaviest environmental burdens.”
Learn more about clean energy solutions:
- Community Solar: U.S. Department of Energy
- Solar Energy Basics: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Energy System Map: Student Energy
November – The Plastic Bag Ban
This progressive bill, which was passed by the State Assembly and Senate in September and then signed by Governor Murphy, will be the “strongest bag ban in the nation.” Effective as of May 2022, this law will ban plastic and paper single-use bags, along with foam cups and containers. In addition, certain containers with specific, non-sustainable uses will be banned in May of 2024. This landmark bill will help prevent pollution which damages New Jersey’s ecosystems, notably its beaches, and protect the health of New Jersey citizens. This ban will hopefully inspire the rest of the country to take aggressive action for environmental protection.
Learn more about plastic pollution:
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