New Jersey Sustainability Greenhouse Gas Action Plan

Abstract

In 1999, New Jersey Future, a non-profit, non-partisan group published its report, "Living with the Future in Mind - Goals and Indicators for New Jersey's Quality of Life". The report was part of New Jersey Future's Sustainable State project. The report is a "report card" on the long-term trends that can enhance or reduce the quality of life in New Jersey. The 11 goals described in the 1999 report are the product of a four year dialog with citizens from all walks of life that helped to develop the 41 indicators outlined in the report. The indicators were selected to measure specific progress towards sustainability goals. This will allow for the establishment of meaningful targets or benchmarks for each indicator to assist in achieving the overall goal of sustainability. Among these indicators are energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, two topics that are central to the issues discussed in this Action Plan. In Executive Order 96 (Appendix A) issued on May 20, 1999, Governor Whitman directed all state agencies to pursue policies that support the sustainability goals outlined in the "Living with the Future in Mind" report. Executive Order 96 directs all state departments and agencies to exchange information and establish institutional mechanisms to encourage and facilitate achieving the sustainable State goal in the New Jersey Future report. Executive Order 96 requires each department/agency to report on progress towards the sustainable State goal. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Sustainability Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Action Plan is one tool the NJDEP will use to track the State's progress towards sustainability. NJDEP, through its Strategic Plan and National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) process, will develop specific GHG indicators that track the progress of the strategies in this Action Plan.