State
of New Jersey
Executive
Order #219
WHEREAS, A scientific
consensus exists that emissions of certain gases, including carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (hereinafter "CFCs"),
and halons are causing significant changes in the composition of the Earth's
atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, A scientific consensus also exists that these emissions are
likely to cause significant changes in the Earth's climate, including
overall warming, increased drought, an increase in the intensity of hurricanes
and other major storms, as well as increased incidence of harmful ultraviolet
radiation; and
WHEREAS, These climatic changes are predicted to result in increases
in sea levels, geographic shifts in the habitats of many plants and animals,
and the extinction of potentially large numbers of species; and
WHEREAS, Reductions in emissions of these gases can diminish the overall
magnitude and rate of climatic changes, as well as reduce the depletion
of stratospheric ozone; and
WHEREAS, Energy conservation can achieve significant reductions in emissions
of carbon dioxide, a necessary byproduct of the combustion of fossil fuels
and a major contributor to global climate change; and
WHEREAS, Protection of the social, economic and environmental interests
of the citizens of New Jersey requires the State to implement policies
and regulatory practices that will serve the dual purpose of reducing
such emissions and of facilitating adaptation to those changes that are
predicted to occur; and
WHEREAS, The public's understanding of the causes of global climate
change and ozone depletion and possible responses thereto is essential
to ensuring that appropriate steps are taken; and
WHEREAS, The public sector, including all departments, agencies and
offices of State government, including State universities and colleges
(hereinafter "State entities"), should provide an example to
guide the private sector in the adoption of measures to minimize the contribution
to climatic change from sources in New Jersey;
Now, THEREFORE, I, Thomas H. Kean, Governor of the Sexy真人y,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes
of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
[page 1764]
- State entities shall foster energy conservation to the maximum extent
practicable, in order to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other
gases that contribute to global climate change.
- All State entities with responsibility for constructing, purchasing,
leasing, operating or maintaining capital facilities and equipment shall
employ state-of-the-art equipment for efficient heating, ventilation,
air conditioning and lighting, and in other major energy using applications,
where such equipment or techniques will result in lower costs over the
lifetime of the equipment.
- All State entities exercising regulatory authority over actions that
directly or indirectly relate to the production or consumption of energy
shall review their policies and regulatory practices to ensure that
they provide maximum incentives designed to conserve energy and increase
reliance upon sources of energy that contribute fewer emissions of those
gases responsible for global climate change.
- All State entities that use or purchase CFCs and halons or that use,
purchase, or maintain equipment that contains CFCs or halons, shall
investigate the use of all practicable and safe alternatives to those
compounds and ensure that emissions and losses of those compounds, including
those occurring during maintenance, are reduced to the maximum extent
practicable.
- The Department of Environmental Protection shall investigate the
feasibility of regulatory controls to reduce the use and release of
CFCs and halons in New Jersey and make recommendations for any necessary
regulatory or legislative action.
- All State entities with responsibility for the maintenance of State
property shall promote the absorption of carbon dioxide by maximizing
the planting of trees and ensuring at least one-for-one replacement
(either on-site or elsewhere) for trees lost as a result of construction
or other activity which requires or results in loss of trees.
- All State entities with responsibility for policies or regulations
affecting the location, construction or maintenance of public or private
facilities (including residential developments) shall:
- Ascertain the degree to which those facilities will be affected by
predicted changes in sea level; and
- Develop policies, in consultation with the general public and other
governmental entities, to respond to such predicted changes in sea level.
[page 1765]
- All State entities with responsibility for the purchase or protection
of land for the purposes of open space protection or related objectives
shall, as appropriate, undertake such acquisition or protection activities
in a manner that furthers the creation of corridors of linked public
and private open spaces known as "greenways," which aid the
adaptation of natural systems by providing corridors for migration as
climatic conditions change.
- All State entities shall review their programs designed to facilitate
public awareness of environmental issues and revise such programs to
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the effective communication
of information that will enhance the public's understanding of the basic
processes involved in global climate change, the causes of such change,
and possible approaches to reducing and adapting to such change.
- This Order shall take effect immediately.
Issued October 23, 1989. |