The New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience has finalized and released the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan. The Plan sets 136 specific actions to be implemented by individual agencies to mitigate the effects of extreme heat.
The Action Plan sets five priorities: 1) Build Resilient and Health Communities; 2) Strengthen the Resilience of New Jersey’s Ecosystems; 3) Promote Coordinated Governance; 4) Invest in Information and Increase Public Understanding; and 5) Promote Climate-Informed Investments.
Of particular interest to municipalities is the Action Plan’s call to develop municipal guidance and tools to assist with understanding vulnerabilities and develop and implement strategies and plans to deal with extreme heat. This includes the continuation of programs such as the Resilient NJ program and developing and expanding additional funding opportunities for municipalities.
The Plan also examines the possibility of continued expansion of regional planning efforts specifically regarding watersheds and other environmentally sensitive areas.
The League encourages our members to review the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan in full to better understand the numerous opportunities for municipal engagement and support in addressing extreme heat impacts at the local level.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.