Who We Are
NJ THRIVES brings together the experts- people from our communities – to chart a path forward in which they finally have a say. For too long well-intentioned groups, and politically connected corporations have decided what is best for our communities. It’s our time to lead the way and build a future for New Jersey where all of us matter. It’s a future where we heal our lands from a toxic past and restore our communities, where we are ready for flooding and storms, where our kids can count on good jobs, and where we protect our air and water for generations – it’s a future where we can all thrive.
New Jersey is one of the fastest warming states in the country. Our average temperatures have risen nearly 2 degrees Celsius since 1895 — double the average for the lower 48 states. This means stronger storms and rising seas, as well as hotter weather that exacerbates asthma and other health conditions. At the same time, sea levels in New Jersey are rising more rapidly than the global average. In Atlantic City, the sea level has risen 17.6 inches since records began in 1911. This means more flooding – and as Ida showed us this summer – that flooding can happen anywhere.
The climate crisis exacerbates pre-existing inequalities and inefficiencies in our state and communities and is hitting all of where we live.
We are focused on the following solutions for our communities:
- Clean energy and good jobs for all communities
- Stopping pollution and reducing emissions in Environmental Justice Communities
- Addressing superfund sites and ensuring we have clean water
- Community development in black, latino, indigenous and rural communities including equitable public transportation and worker safety
- Investment in infrastructure to better prepare our homes and communities for sea level rise and the flooding we already face.
- Workforce development and training for future green economy jobs.
- Just recovery from storms and disasters.
How:
- Expand the capacity and power of frontline groups and communities.
- Bring People in – our communities and new groups, communities and allies.
- Drawdown resources from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and make sure they are reaching our communities to transform them for the better
- Explore developing state legislation that allows us to get at our core solutions.
- Repair broken disaster recovery systems and get Ida families home.