In 2026, the CCRC collaborated with eight municipalities to complete Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessments (CCRHVAs) in alignment with the NJ Municipal Land Use Law. A CCRHVA is required for the land use element of a municipal Master Plan and must identify and analyze local climate hazards, vulnerable assets and populations, impacts to local plans, and potential strategies to reduce risk. Rutgers’ interdisciplinary team used locally tailored data and stakeholder input to develop the CCRHVAs, which are intended to help each community identify land use and zoning approaches to increase resilience to climate change impacts.

This project was supported by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient NJ Municipal Assistance Program. In addition to providing free technical assistance to municipalities, the project helps establish statewide planning guidance with quality CCRHVA examples and documentation of effective practices.