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Advancing Climate Change Solutions in New Jersey Creating Opportunities to Build a Healthy, Just Resilient and Carbon-neutral Garden State
AGENDA

NJCCA 2022 Annual Convening focuses on integrated climate change solutions that:

  • Advance health equity
  • Promote social justice
  • Create vibrant communities
  • Encourage nature based solutions

Welcome 9:00-9:15 am

  • Advancing the intersection of climate preparedness and net zero emissionsMartha Maxwell-Doyle, NJCCA Co-Chair and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Plenary 1: Climate Solutions that Advance Social Justice 9:15-10:20 am

Moderator/Panelist: Gary Sondermeyer, NJCCA Co-Chair and Bayshore Recycling
Panelists: Jon Carnegie, Rutgers University; Kim Gaddy, Clean Water Action; Nicky Sheats, Kean University

Break 10:20-10:30 am

Plenary 2: Climate Solutions that Advance Health Equity 10:30-11:30 am

Moderator: David Henry, NJ Association of County and City Health Officials
Panelists: Kevin McNally, NJ Public Health Association; Sharon Roerty, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Raymond Brandes, New Jersey Hospital Association

State Updates 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Moderators: Pam Frank, Gabel Associates and Tom Lewis, WSP
Panelists: Jane Cohen, Executive Director Office of Climate Action and Green Economy; Joseph Fiordaliso, NJBPU President; Shawn LaTourette, NJDEP Commissioner; Elkins Green, NJDOT Director of Environmental Resources; Donna Rendeiro, Executive Director State Planning Commission

Lunch 12:30 – 1:15 pm

Keynote: Opportunities and Challenges for Climate Justice 1:15 – 2:00 pm
Sacoby Wilson, Professor and Director, T.H.E. EJ Lab
Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland

Legislative Updates 2:00-3:00 pm
Moderator: Zoe Baldwin, Regional Plan Association
Panelists: Honorable Bob Smith, Chair, NJ Senate Environment and Energy Committee and Honorable James J. Kennedy, Chair, NJ Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee

Plenary 3: Nature Based Climate Solutions that Build Vibrant Communities 3:00-4:00 pm

Moderator: Randy Solomon, Sustainable Jersey
Panelists: Tim Dillingham, American Littoral Society; Tom Gilbert, NJ Conservation Foundation; Liz Semple, The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey

2022 Conference Sponsors

Vision Forum: Healthy, Just, Resilient
and CO2-neutral Mobility for All
An Initiative of the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance
The New Jersey Climate Change Alliance and the NJ Climate Change Resource Center in association with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers facilitated a virtual statewide thought leaders webinar featuring national experts in the fields of planning, social justice, health, and carbon neutral mobility. This webinar is the first component of a three-part visioning process designed to explore how New Jersey policymakers and communities in New Jersey can pursue multiple goals simultaneously as we all work together to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector. This program will be followed by County-Specific Visioning Workshops and a Youth Visioning Session in early 2022. Speakers

Moderator: Jon A. Carnegie, AICP/PP Executive Director, Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University

VISION FORUM FLYER

Energy Foundation NJ Climate Change Resource Center Nj Climate Change Alliance Alan M. Vorhees Transportation Center
Advancing Climate Justice: A Case Study from Providence, Rhode Island
On March 4, 2021, the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance continued with its virtual series in lieu of an in-person conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event was the fifth in this series. Featured speakers included Leah Bamberger, Director of Sustainability for the City of Providence, Rhode Island; Jazandra Barros, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Southside Community Land Trust; and Jesus Holguin, Community Organizer, Project Team Member of the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee and Center Coordinator of Youth Pride, Inc. Together these speakers presented on Providence Rhode Island’s Climate Justice Action Plan. Mar 4 2021 speakers

The NJCCA is grateful for the support of its Annual Conference Virtual Series Sponsors:

LEADERSHIP LEVEL SPONSORS

STRATEGIC PARTNER LEVEL SPONSOR

PSEG

SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS

Bayshore

CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL SPONSOR

NJM Insurance Group

SPONSORS

New Jersey's Clean Energy Program Colliers Engineering & Design

FRIENDS LEVEL SPONSORS

New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Advancing Health Equity in the Era of the Climate Crisis

On February 4, 2021, the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance continued with its virtual series in lieu of an in person conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event, “Advancing Health Equity in the Era of the Climate Crisis” was the fifth in this series, featuring Surili Patel, Director, Center for Climate And Health Equity at the American Public Health Association. Ms. Patel was joined by Dr. Marjorie Kaplan and Jeanne Herb of Rutgers University; Don Weinbaum and Kevin McNally of the NJ Public Health Association; and Dr. George DiFerdinando and David Henry the co-chairs of the NJ Climate Change Alliance Public Health Working Group.

Surili Patel, NJPHA

The NJCCA is grateful for the support of its
Annual Conference Virtual Series Sponsors:

LEADERSHIP LEVEL SPONSORS


STRATEGIC PARTNER LEVEL SPONSOR

PSEG


SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS

Bayshore


CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL SPONSOR

NJM Insurance Group


SPONSORS

New Jersey's Clean Energy ProgramMaser Consulting


FRIENDS LEVEL SPONSORS

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

The Business of Climate Action:
A Conversation with Lisa Jackson

Lisa Jackson

On January 28, 2021, the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance continued with its virtual series in lieu of an in-person conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event was the fourth in this series, featuring Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP for Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives in a conversation on The Business of Climate Action. Ms. Jackson was joined by Mark Mauriello, Director of Environmental Affairs and Planning, Edgewood Properties and a former Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. As a former EPA Administrator and NJDEP Commissioner, Ms. Jackson reflected on government leadership and the opportunities for intersection with business as well as communities.

The NJCCA is grateful for the support of its
Annual Conference Virtual Series Sponsors:

LEADERSHIP LEVEL SPONSORS


STRATEGIC PARTNER LEVEL SPONSOR

PSEG


SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS

Bayshore


CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL SPONSOR

NJM Insurance Group


SPONSORS

New Jersey's Clean Energy ProgramMaser Consulting


FRIENDS LEVEL SPONSORS

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

What’s on the Horizon for Implementing New Jersey’s Climate Change Agenda?

On January 22, 2021, the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance continued with its virtual series in lieu of an in-person conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event was the third in this series, featuring Governor Phil Murphy and NJDEP Acting Commissioner Sean LaTourette who provided the latest update on how New Jersey is implementing its ambitious climate mitigation and climate resilience strategies.

The NJCCA is grateful for the support of its
Annual Conference Virtual Series Sponsors:

LEADERSHIP LEVEL SPONSORS


STRATEGIC PARTNER LEVEL SPONSOR

PSEG


SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS

Bayshore


CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL SPONSOR

NJM Insurance Group


SPONSORS

New Jersey's Clean Energy ProgramMaser Consulting


FRIENDS LEVEL SPONSORS

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

What’s on the Horizon for Implementing New Jersey’s Climate Change Agenda?
Governors Kean, Florio, Whitman

On October 2, 2020, The New Jersey Climate Change Alliance continued with its Annual Conference. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, an in-person meeting was reconfigured to a series of events. This event was the second in the series. Part II was a virtual dialogue featuring the Honorable Thomas H. Kean, the Honorable James J. Florio, and the Honorable Christine Todd Whitman, the 48th, 49th, and 50th Governors of New Jersey who provided reflections on leadership and past lessons to inform addressing the climate crisis. John Weingart, Associate Director of the Eagleton Institute for Politics moderated the discussion.

The NJCCA is grateful for the support of its
Annual Conference Virtual Series Sponsors:

LEADERSHIP LEVEL SPONSORS


STRATEGIC PARTNER LEVEL SPONSOR

PSEG


SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS

Bayshore


CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL SPONSOR

NJM Insurance Group


SPONSORS

New Jersey's Clean Energy ProgramMaser Consulting


FRIENDS LEVEL SPONSORS

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

State Policy and Alliance Updates:
An NJCCA Virtual Workshop

On September 15, 2020, The New Jersey Climate Change Alliance initiated its Annual Conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an in-person meeting was reconfigured to a series of events. This event was the first in the series. Part I brought together New Jersey’s two leading cabinet officers on climate and energy programs: NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso. Commissioner McCabe and President Fiordaliso provided updates on State of New Jersey climate change policies and programs. Next, a panel of experts from the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance responded to the cabinet officers’ presentations. A panel of New Jersey Climate Change Alliance Working Group Co-Chairs also provided updates on the status of working groups in the areas of Long-Range Adaptation Planning, Natural and Working Lands, Public Health, Offshore Wind Ecological Monitoring, and Transportation.

The workshop agenda is available here.

View NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe’s presentation here.

The NJCCA is grateful for the support of its
Annual Conference Virtual Series Sponsors:

LEADERSHIP LEVEL SPONSORS


STRATEGIC PARTNER LEVEL SPONSOR

PSEG


SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS

Bayshore


CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL SPONSOR

NJM Insurance Group


SPONSORS

New Jersey's Clean Energy ProgramMaser Consulting


FRIENDS LEVEL SPONSORS

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Meet the Climate Corps

Angel Alguera, Rutgers Climate CorpsAngel Alguera
I am a first-year Atmospheric Science master’s degree student in the Department of Environmental Sciences, and my work focuses on meteorology and applications of climate change resiliency. My professional interests include severe weather forecasting and community preparedness regarding weather-related disasters. I work with Dr. James Shope at the NJ Climate Change Resource Center to produce applied research and reports relevant to New Jersey stakeholders. I currently assist with climate change data analysis, large dataset management, and report writing.

Daniel GilkesonDaniel Gilkeson
I’m a second-year master’s student in the City and Regional Planning Program with a concentration in environmental planning. As a planner, I hope to build more resilient communities in the face of increased risk due to climate change. With the Climate Change Resource Center, I am working on a project to aid the state in an update of its floodplain buyout program, known as Blue Acres, to be more proactive and comprehensive. Prior to this position, I interned in the Community and Economic Development Office at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Association. I’m also an AmeriCorps alum, having completed a year of service working on affordable housing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Benjamin GoldbergBenjamin Goldberg
I am a second-year Master of City and Regional Planning student concentrating in climate adaptation and resiliency planning, with experience in sustainable food systems. I joined the Climate Corps last summer to help develop a GIS-based food waste recovery tool, and currently support community resilience through flood vulnerability analysis. I hold a B.A. from Middlebury College and a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC Santa Cruz.

Surya Jacob, Rutgers Climate CorpsSurya Jacob
I am a graduate student in the Master of City and Regional Planning program at the Bloustein School concentrating in community development, focused on housing, land and finance, as well as pursuing the Real Estate Development/Redevelopment Certification. Prior to Bloustein, I worked as an architect and interior designer in India and Canada and am pivoting towards a career in urban planning to engage in extensive projects at the macro level. My interests include affordable and mixed income housing, urban redevelopment, and housing finance, and I am deeply passionate about climate resilience in community planning. Being part of Climate Corps is a foundational step towards helping to solve equity issues in vulnerable communities along the coastal region.

Vineesh Das Kodakkandathil, RutgersVineesh Das Kodakkandathil
I am an urban planner with five years of professional experience in community-led ecotourism development and land use and environment management planning in ecologically sensitive areas. I have worked on and conducted extensive environmental sensitivity analyses, flood and landslide vulnerability assessments, and human impact assessments with the help of GIS tools. I’m currently pursuing my master’s in City and Regional Planning at Bloustein School with a concentration in Transport Planning and GIS.

Douglas LeungDouglas Leung
I am working with the Climate Change Resource Center to identify vulnerable communities and places affected by climate-induced flooding in coastal New Jersey municipalities. I am a Master of City and Regional Planning candidate at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. As a planner, I want to develop strategies and solve problems affecting our cities and communities that enable more equitable outcomes in housing and transportation. I am also a recent Army veteran, having served as a company commander of recruiting in the northern suburbs of Chicago and as a reconnaissance platoon leader in the 10th Mountain Division. For fun, I enjoy weightlifting, running, reading fiction, and board games.

Nihar MhatreNihar Mhatre
I am a master’s candidate in city and regional planning at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, focusing on urban design and land use planning. Before being accepted at Rutgers, I worked as an architect at JD Studio and had my own architectural practice, Vastu Insights. My research interests revolve around designing and developing climate change adaptation and resilience strategies to promote equity in urban landscapes. Having the opportunity to work on real-world projects through Climate Corps will be an essential step in the development of my understanding of addressing climate change issues in vulnerable regions.

Justin MorrisJustin Morris
Justin is a master’s student at Rutgers University studying discovery informatics and data sciences. He is working under Professor Mark Rodgers to develop an optimization model that will act as a decision support tool for university financial investments with the end goal of eliminating Rutgers’ scope 2 emissions. He is excited to apply his background in data analytics and mathematical programming to help the university fight climate change.

Josephine O'GradyJosephine O’Grady
I am a first-year student in the Master of Public Policy program. Through the Coastal Climate Risk and Resilience (C2R2) certification, I am focusing a significant portion of my graduate coursework on topics including coastal geomorphology, environmental justice, and hazard mitigation planning. Before beginning my studies at the Bloustein School, I received my bachelor’s degree in public health from Kean University, where I first became interested in how coastal dynamics shape lived experiences. I previously served as an intern at the New Jersey State Policy Lab and currently work for the Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH) team.

Jessica Parineet Jessica Parineet
I am a first-year Master of Public Policy student at the Bloustein School with a strong interest in climate change policy and related topics. In my previous work, I gained experience in a number of dimensions of climate change issues through carbon capture storage research, urban heat island research, and community level engagement as I am currently on the Student Advisory Board for the Rutgers Office of Climate Action. I am excited to expand on my interests in environmental justice and local level resilience planning through my involvement in the Climate Corps.

Dillon Patel Dillan Patel
I am a second-year Master of City and Regional Planning student concentrating in Environmental Planning and International Development. I have previously worked as an economist performing cost-benefit analysis and conducting monitoring and evaluation for renewable energy in developing countries. I have also spent a summer in western Massachusetts mapping stormwater infrastructure and working with planners to identify suitable places for green stormwater infrastructure.

Moira Sweeder, Rutgers Climate CorpsMoira Sweeder
I am a graduate student enrolled in the Master of City and Regional Planning program at the Bloustein School. My concentration is environmental planning with a focus on coastal resilience. Before pursuing my master’s degree at Rutgers, I studied sustainability at Stockton University. During this time, I interned for the PSEG Institute of Sustainability Studies, the Jacques Cousteau National Estuary Research Reserve, and NJ Audubon. I am thrilled to now be a part of the Climate Corps, researching coastal resilience as a part of the Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH) team.

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