Donate Now
Connect
Explore Your Community
Discover the Issues
Publications
New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2009 - Update
In this issue of New Jersey Currents|online:
2008-9 Legislature Worst In New Jersey History?
November Elections for Assembly and Governor Key
At its current pace, the 2008-2009 New Jersey Legislature will go down as the worst environmentally in at least in modern history. Several major bills that rollback key protections have sailed through the legislature while the few positive bills that moved were comparatively less significant and even they had to be weakened to become viable.
Making Connections: Water, Energy and Climate Change
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
Protecting water quality and quantity is one of the most important issues of our time. Currently, 1 billion people in the world (18 percent of the population) lack access to safe drinking water. By 2025, it is estimated that about two thirds of the world's population-about 5.5 billion people-will live in areas facing moderate to severe water stress.
Giving Hope for Newark Youth
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
The graduating class of Newark's Urban Environmental Institute, April 2009.
Kids growing up in Newark don't have it easy. Serious environmental pollution coupled with economic and safety stresses often give children no hope for a better future. Diesel exhaust levels alone cause a tripling of the cancer risk in comparison to suburban areas. Newark kids are also number 1 for asthma-related mortality rates with a doubling of rates within minority populations.
What's sad is that many of these kids don't think they can do anything about it. But there is hope.
Clean Energy Investment Provides Economic Boost, More Jobs in New Jersey
New studies demonstrate how New Jersey can create 48,000 jobs, especially for lower-income households
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
In June 2009, the New Jersey Environmental Federation, in coordination with the Garden State Alliance for a New Economy (GANE) and Laborers 55, co-released two complementary reports today that were prepared by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (PERI), Center for American Progress (CAP), Green For All, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which outline how investment in a clean-energy economy will produce significant economic and job creation benefits.
The studies show that a $4.6 billion amount of investment would create 48,000 jobs in New Jersey. According to the analysis, shifting to a clean-energy economy will help millions of low-income Americans by creating more accessible job opportunities-with the potential for advancement-and by lowering utility bills and transportation costs.
Community Organizer Spotlight: Erik Antokal
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
The rain is coming down in sheets. Lightning streaks the sky. The roads are flooded and nearly impassable. Suddenly, there's a knock at your door. "Hi! I'm Erik! I'm a community organizer for NJEF!"
Congratulations! You've just met one of our brave summer canvassers.
Help Protect One of New Jersey's Most Valuable Ecosystems
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
map courtesy Barnegat Bay Estuary Program
The Barnegat Bay watershed and estuary is one of New Jersey's and the nation's most valued eco-treasures. The watershed, which covers most of Ocean County, is home to over 500,000 people year round, with double that number due to summer. The estuary covers 42 miles of shoreline from the Point Pleasant Canal to Little Egg Harbor Inlet and is protected from the open ocean by a system of barrier beaches and dunes. It is home to crabs, fish, birds, and other wildlife.
The continued economic and environmental health of the watershed and estuary is dependent on the continued health of its waters. Millions of dollars from local, state and federal funds are expended every year to restore and maintain the health of the bay and the tributaries and waterways that flow into the estuary, including Oyster Creek and Forked River.
2008-9 Legislature Worst In New Jersey History?
November Elections for Assembly and Governor Key
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
At its current pace, the 2008-2009 New Jersey Legislature will go down as the worst environmentally in at least in modern history. Several major bills that rollback key protections have sailed through the legislature while the few positive bills that moved were comparatively less significant and even they had to be weakened to become viable.
Other Publications
Everglades for All
In March 2010, Clean Water Fund released Everglades for All.
Over 1,500 Florida residents participated in our survey which was intended to get a pulse on how the public and diverse constituency groups feel about ongoing outreach and historic Everglades restoration efforts.
This survey revealed new opportunities for relationship building and will hopefully increase public input on key decisions in Everglades restoration.
Over 1,500 Florida residents participated in our survey which was intended to get a pulse on how the public and diverse constituency groups feel about ongoing outreach and historic Everglades restoration efforts.
Turning Up the Heat: Exposing the manufacturers' lackluster mercury thermostat collection program
Turning Up the Heat exposes the dismal results of the manufacturers’
voluntary mercury thermostat collection program. The Thermostat
Recycling Corporation (TRC) has collected less than 5% of the
approximately 100 tons of mercury from mercury thermostats
removed from service in the last decade. The collection program in
Rhode Island is below the national average for preventing mercury
pollution from thermostats and far behind the national leaders. The
report recommends that states adopt strong laws, with financial
incentives and performance standards for recycling mercury thermostats,
to drastically improve the TRC program and prevent mercury pollution.
Environmental Groups Ask That Climate Bill Include Energy Efficiency
October 30, 2009
The Honorable Barbara Boxer, Chair
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
410 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
RE: Require Efficiency Investment of at least 1/3 of Allowance Value Given to Electric Utilities
Dear Chairwoman Boxer:
Safer Technology: The Only Solution When Security Fails
The potential for fatalities and economic disruption from an attack on one of these plants is staggering. A 2001 U.S. Army Surgeon General study estimated that in densely populated areas 900,000 to 2.4 million people could be killed or injured in a terrorist attack on a U.S. chemical plant in a densely populated area.
The Coming Crisis: Water Availability And Municipal Conservation Efforts In Central Texas
Executive Summary
Get the complete report (pdf, 9 MB)
You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader properly installed to view PDF documents. You can get it free from Adobe.
Population growth, drought, and climate change are straining the water supplies of Texas communities. Our state’s population is projected to double by 2060. Much of the state is in the throes of a prolonged drought. Climate experts are predicting that the U.S. Southwest will grow signifi cantly drier and hotter in the coming years. The combined challenges of climate change, drought and population growth make it clear that many Texas communities will be increasingly burdened with the responsibility of parceling out a diminishing supply of water to an increasing number of customers.
Nowhere in Texas are these issues more acute than in Central Texas - which is projected to grow at a faster rate than most of the state and is currently in the midst of extreme drought. This study analyzes the challenges posed by population growth, drought and climate change for water availability, as well as the responses to date of Central Texas communities in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (Williamson, Travis and Hays Counties). Our analysis concludes that, while almost all communities within this area are taking additional steps to conserve water, few are embracing the full range of options readily available.