Office of Environmental Justice


Environmental Justice at DEP

DEP’s Three Priority EJ Principles

NJDEP Three Priority EJ Principles

DEP Programs in Action on Environmental Justice

NJ PACT
NJ PACT

New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT) is a targeted regulatory reform effort to update air quality and environmental land use regulations to enable governments, businesses and residents to effectively respond to current climate threats and reduce future climate damages.

See more
Climate Resilience for NJ
Climate Resilience for NJ

Executive Order No. 89 appointed a Chief Resilience Officer and established a Climate and Flood Resilience Program within DEP. It also establishes an Interagency Council on Climate Resilience to develop a Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy to promote long-term climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience in New Jersey.

See more
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in New Jersey
Flood Resilience

To protect municipalities from flooding, New Jersey is working to build a comprehensive system of flood hazard risk reduction measures.

See more
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in New Jersey
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is part of Governor Murphy's goal to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050. Shifting to clean and renewable energy sources reduces greenhouse gas emissions that are already causing climate impacts in New Jersey, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities.

See more
Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI)
Transportation and Climate Initiative

TCI recognizes that a regional low-carbon transportation policy will spur policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, help communities become more resilient to extreme weather, spur economic growth, and address the disproportionate burdens of climate change on environmental justice communities.

See more
Community Collaborative Initiative
Community Collaborative Initiative

The Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) works closely with diverse partners in urban communities to support their vision for revitalization and growth. NJDEP’s traditional role is evolving through the use of a single DEP point-of-contact to leverage resources and expertise that brings innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

See more
Community Collaborative Initiative
Testing for Lead in Drinking Water

Resources on water suppliers to consumers, private well owners and schools, and public water systems; and rules on lead.

See more
State Environmental Education Directory (SEEDS)
State Environmental Education Directory (SEEDS)

The purpose of SEEDS is to promote the environmental education information and resources that are directly supported by DEP, either through its programs or through formal and ongoing alliances and partnerships, and to educate the public about the field of environmental education, including its purpose, goals, and role in the DEP.

See more
Brownfield Site Reuse Success Stories
Brownfield Site Reuse Success Stories

The Office of Brownfield Reuse works diligently with the public and private sector to move brownfield properties through the remediation and redevelopment process. When a brownfield redevelopment project comes to fruition, local communities experience benefits such as neighborhood revitalization, increased tax revenue, or reclamation of land for open space.

See more
HOFNOD
Hooked On Fishing – Not on Drugs Program

The goal of New Jersey's Hooked On Fishing – Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) program is to encourage school-aged children to avoid tobacco, drug and alcohol usage by providing alternative activities that involve learning to fish, appreciating aquatic and environmental resources, and developing positive life skills.

See more
Combined Sewer Overflow Program
Combined Sewer Overflow Program

The Department is committed to working with Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) permittees and CSO communities to reduce or eliminate CSOs. The individual CSO permits encourage collaboration on projects that will provide urban redevelopment opportunities, improve water quality, beautify neighborhoods, and improve the overall quality of life in our urban communities.

See more
Urban and Community Forestry Program
Urban & Community Forestry Program

Urban & Community Forestry programs ensure more livable communities through the care and management of trees. Neglect and urban stress limit the life span of the average downtown tree to only ten years. With proper care, trees live longer, look better, and increase in value as they age.

See more

Groundwork Elizabeth – More P.E.A.S. Initiative

Groundwork Elizabeth along with our governmental partners works collaboratively with the private sector, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, local educators and the community at large to undertake various projects that will result in better access to healthy foods, strategies to build sustainable agricultural systems, development of green-career opportunities, and quality of life improvements in socially and economically-challenged areas of the City of Elizabeth, the Township of Union, and other areas throughout the County of Union.

The More P.E.A.S. initiative promotes the three core tenets of permaculture, to care for the earth (stewardship), to care for people (social and cultural revitalization), and the return of surplus (reinvestment and recycling).

Sources

New Jersey Tree Foundation – Tree Planting project in Newark

NJ Tree Foundation provides basic tree care information to all tree recipients, all these partners were invited to join in learning more extensively about tree care, maintenance, and more at our annual TreeKeepers workshops. NJ Tree Foundation planted 73 trees in the City of Newark with the help of 114 volunteers. Most of these trees were planted at schools in the Ironbound community. The trees provide environmental and community social and mental benefits, such as, the reduction of stormwater flooding and air filtration.

Sources

Urban League of Essex County – Bee Ready Program for at-risk youth in Newark’s West Ward

The Bee Ready Program is a year-round program that provides young at-risk youth with exposure to a nontraditional career, addressing life skills deficiencies (e.g., time management, financial literacy, peer pressure and community service) and academic remediation (study and test taking skills), and the opportunity to develop college and career plans. benefits, such as, the reduction of stormwater flooding and air filtration.

Sources

Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Water Working Group – Lead in Drinking Water Pilot in Irvington

This project was piloted in Irvington Township to ensure that residents, especially children, are aware of the importance of flushing the tap water system out before using after long periods of idleness. To accomplish this the Water Working Group developed a door tag containing lead in drinking water facts, and precautionary measures and strategies to reduce potential exposure. Ultimately, EJAC wishes to replicate this pilot program in every Environmental Justice community in the State.