Somerset County commissioners endorse climate change strategies

SOMERVILLE - In the wake of the severe flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1, the county board of commissioners has outlined steps that all levels of government should adopt to cope with climate change.

The commissioners have endorsed four strategic goals in climate change policy:

? End emissions. Achieve the net-zero mission targets called for by scientific and international bodies, including the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency.

? Cool back down. Discover and deploy technologies and practices to remove as much carbon dioxide from air and waters to return the Earth to the temperatures of the late 1800s.

? Minimize the pain. Acknowledge and address the job losses caused by decarbonization.

? Create a fairer environment. It's time to end pollution and climate effects that target lower-income communities.

“The devastating flooding in Manville, Bound Brook, Raritan, Somerville, Hillsborough, and other communities from Hurricanes Floyd, Irene and Ida shows that such storms are becoming more frequent and more severe," said County Commissioner Paul Drake. "It’s clear the impacts of climate change are already here and affecting our economy, our homes, and even our lives."

Drake said action is long overdue.

“It is well past time for all of us to have a conversation on how we will personally and collectively fight to reduce and reverse the impact of human-induced climate change,” he said.

The county has already undertaken several measures to address climate change, including increasing energy efficiency at county buildings and facilities, updating the county's master plan, supporting the creation of "green jobs," funding agriculture and forest restoration projects, open space acquisitions, and other environmental activities, promoting walking, biking and public transportation and implementing electric car use for county employees.

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Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerset County commissioners endorse climate change strategies