Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress. 

Explore New Jersey's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

new_jersey

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

A1282

Requires DEP to develop and implement electric school bus program; provides for $15 million in first year and $15 million annually in subsequent two years to DEP, subject to availability, to provide grants.

As Per The New Jersey Electric School Bus Law P.L.2022, c.86 (C.26:2C-8.58 et al.), New Jersey is invested in exploring the betterment of school bus fleets throughout the state by implementing a program designed to encourage and monitor the transition to electric school buses. In each year of funding, at least half of the school districts or school bus contractors selected by the department must operate within an Overburdened Community. Additionally, the department aims to select an equal number of grantees from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, respectively.​

Of the 21,700 school buses registered in New Jersey, over 99% run on fossil fuels. While providing vital transportation services, these buses negatively impact the health of students and residents of the communities in which they operate. To address this issue, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Electric School Bus Grant program provides funding to replace diesel school buses with battery-electric school buses per P.L. 2022, c.86.

Electric School Bus Program

transportation

Notice of Substantial Change to Resilient Environments and Landscapes Proposed Rule

The Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) rules were proposed on August 5, 2024, with the intent to modernize New Jersey’s environmental land use rules in response to the most current science regarding climate change by considering risks such as sea-level rise and chronic flooding, and to facilitate climate resilience. As a result of updated science recently available and the comments received during the comment period for REAL, the Department determined that it is appropriate to propose a Notice of Substantial Change (NOSC) to the originally
proposed REAL Amendments. 

Most notably, the proposed changes will adjust the coastal zone flood-elevation for new and substantially damaged/improved buildings and infrastructure from the originally proposed 5 feet to 4 feet above the FEMA base flood elevation. As compared to the original 2024 proposal, the inundation risk zone and tidal climate adjusted flood elevation would now be based on a 4-foot increase in sea level rather than the originally proposed 5 feet. The adjusted elevation effectively reduces the amount of additional coastal land area that would be subject to the building safety standards of New Jersey’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act. The proposed changes would also expand provisions to enable projects to proceed under pre-existing regulations if they reach certain planning, design, or permitting milestones by July 2026, i.e., within six months of DEP’s intended adoption of the REAL rules.

S3519

Directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to purchase up to $100 million in property from NJ TRANSIT to help expand commuter hubs across the state and meet a variety of critical needs. Under the proposal, the NJEDA would purchase a number of NJ TRANSIT properties, such as surface parking lots, and transform them into mixed-use, transit-oriented developments that will spur economic activity and increase walkability near transit lines while also creating a direct revenue source for the mass transit agency.

Whitman Launches Transit Village Program

Governor Christie Whitman and Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein today announced the start of a new community and public transit effort called the Transit Village Program.

"In keeping with my New Jersey First Vision, this program will create development and investment centered around passenger rail stations," the Governor said. "In effect, we are returning these stations to their historical role: a place where growth, recreation, opportunity and access became one. I am pleased that this program will also enhance investment in our urban areas and promote community leadership."

"The Transit Village program will help communities leverage more private-sector investment," the Commissioner said. "It also helps to promote public transit, growth, and partnerships with the private sector. Communities are the bedrock of our state, and promoting programs that center on our communities must always remain our priority."

Five communities have already started discussion on implementing this initiative: Morristown, Pleasantville, Rutherford, South Amboy, and South Orange. Through partnering with other state agencies, NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT will assist in identifying technical assistance and resources to help communities implement the initiative. Additionally, with the establishment of the Transit Villages, these communities will be given priority consideration for funding from NJDOT’s Local Aid for Centers program, the Transportation Enhancements program , and Bicycle and Pedestrian projects.

The following agencies will work in conjunction with NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT on the initiative: the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT spearhead a multi-agency Smart Growth partnership known as the Transit Village Initiative. The Transit Village Initiative creates incentives for municipalities to redevelop or revitalize the areas around transit stations using design standards of transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD helps municipalities create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles.

Municipalities that are committed to TOD may be eligible for NJDOT Transit Village designation. The Transit Village Initiative is an excellent model for Smart Growth because it encourages growth in areas where infrastructure and public transit already exist. Municipalities must meet the Transit Village Criteria and complete a Transit Village Application Requirements in order to be designated a Transit Village.