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State of New Jersey
Executive Order #219

Governor Thomas H. Kean
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 State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

    [page 1764]

  1. 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.

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. All State entities with responsibility for policies or regulations affecting the location, construction or maintenance of public or private facilities (including residential developments) shall:

    1. Ascertain the degree to which those facilities will be affected by predicted changes in sea level; and

    2. Develop policies, in consultation with the general public and other governmental entities, to respond to such predicted changes in sea level.

    [page 1765]

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. This Order shall take effect immediately.
Issued October 23, 1989.
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