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Ocean City NJ flood after 2013 winter storm

Report

NJ Sea Level Rise Reports

In 2016 Rutgers University convened a New Jersey Science and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) on Sea Level Rise and Changing Coastal Storms on behalf of the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance to synthesize for practitioners the most recent climate science needed to inform efforts to increase the resilience of New Jersey’s people, places, and assets (including infrastructure, communities and natural resources) to regional sea-level rise (SLR), changing coastal storms and the resulting flood risk.

In 2019 Rutgers University re-convened the Panel on behalf of the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to update the 2016 report.

The 2019 and 2016 reports are found below. Also provided are “Frequently Asked Questions regarding the New Jersey Science and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) Study.”

2019

2019 NJ Sea Level Report

New Jersey’s Rising Seas and Changing Coastal Storms: Report of the 2019 Science and Technical Advisory Panel

FULL REPORT
November 2019

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New Jersey’s Rising Seas and Changing Coastal Storms: A Summary of the 2019 Science and Technical Advisory Panel

SUMMARY
November 2019

A handy summary of the 2019 report of the New Jersey Science and Technical Advisory Panel on Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms.

View/Download Report
2023 updated FAQ for STAP report

Frequently Asked Questions regarding the New Jersey Science and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) Study

In 2016, Rutgers University researchers convened a panel of scientists to assess projections of future sea-level and storm changes affecting the Garden State. To ensure the usability of their assessment, the scientists also consulted with state and local practitioners to discuss how they would integrate the science into their decisions to enhance the coastal resilience of New Jersey’s people, places, and assets. In 2019 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection engaged Rutgers to conduct new consultations with panels of scientists and practitioners to update its 2016 work to reflect the most recent climate science. This FAQ also includes a comparison of the 2019 STAP Report to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) AR6 Report (2021) and the federal Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Hazard Scenarios and Tools Interagency Task Force Report (2022).
View/Download FAQ

2016

2016 NJ Sea Level Report

Assessing New Jersey’s Exposure to Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Storms: Report of the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance Science and Technical Advisory Panel

FULL REPORT
October 2016

Full report of the 2016 New Jersey Science and Technical Advisory Panel on Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Storms.

View/Download Report
2016 NJ Sea Level Report

Assessing New Jersey’s Exposure to Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Storms: A Companion Report to the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance Science and Technical Advisory Panel Report

COMPANION REPORT
October 2016

A description of how coastal hazard data and coastal climate change impacts were addressed in New Jersey as of 2016.

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2016 NJ Sea Level Rise Report - Summary

Integrating Science into Coastal Resilience Planning and Decision Making

SUMMARY
October 2016

A high level summary of the two 2016 NJ Sea Level Rise reports above.

View/Download Report

Additional Resources

NJs Rising Coastal Risk

New Jersey's Rising Coastal Risk

FULL REPORT
October 2019

New Jersey’s coast plays a vital role in the state’s economy and its residents’ way of life. While these communities have a long history of weathering storms and flooding, sea-level rise and changes in hurricane activity create new risks. This report quantifies the impact of changes in both hazards over the past four decades on flood and wind exposure and expected damage at the individual county level, and explores how New Jersey coastal risk will evolve in the years ahead as the climate changes.

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Kopp Testimony-Impacts of Climate Change on NJ Coast

Testimony of Dr. Robert Kopp at the Committee on Environment and Solid Waste, New Jersey State Assembly

THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON NEW JERSEY’S COASTS
March 22, 2018

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Employment accessibility and rising seas

Employment Accessibility and Rising Seas

Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
October 2019

Robert B. Noland, Sicheng Wang
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Scott Kulp, Benjamin H. Strauss
Climate Central, One Palmer Square, Suite 402, Princeton, NJ

View/Download Report

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NJ Climate News

Who We Are

The New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center helps address climate change issues in New Jersey from emissions reduction to building adaptation and resilience by providing actionable science, planning tools, technical guidance, and support to policymakers, practitioners, and communities.

New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University

Contact

NJ CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCE CENTER
Jeanne Herb, Co-Director
Phone: 848-932-2725
Email

Marjorie Kaplan, Co-Director
Phone: 848-932-5739
Email

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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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