Help Protect Barnegat Bay and the Jersey Shore

Earth Day 2009 Open Space Victory!

On Earth Day, NJEF celebrated a great open space victory - Petty's Island is officially being preserved as an ecological, cultural and historical preserve. NJEF has been fighting to preserve Petty's Island, a 529-acre island located in the Delaware River, close to Camden, for the past three years. Petty's Island is a treasured area, home to nesting bald eagles, endangered herons, and other wildlife. It will be permanently protected as one of the last parcels of open space amidst a sea of sprawl.

Global warming is no longer a problem to be answered in the future-it must be addressed today. Science confirms that global warming is real, present and caused by human activity. The International Panel on Climate Change warns that, without intervention, temperatures may increase more than 10°F by the end of this century. As the world grows hotter, water resources will become scarcer and more seasonal. Increasingly frequent heat waves will be accompanied by intense storms, dangerous floods and severe drought.

Coalition for Healthy Ports

The Coalition for Healthy Ports is a broad coalition of environmental, labor, faith, community, environmental justice and business organizations that seek to create sustainable ports in New York and New Jersey. The ports represent the largest piece of a complex logistics industry that also includes a growing number of warehouse and distribution centers and light industrial manufacturing and service related industries. Visit our Coalition for Healthy Ports web page.

Kids Clean Air Zones & Idle Free New Jersey

Vehicle exhaust is the leading source of hazardous air pollution in New Jersey (Source: NJDEP). New Jersey also faces the nation's 2nd greatest cancer risk from diesel soot emissions (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data).

That's why New Jersey Environmental Federation is urging individuals, schools, and municipalities to take the "Kids Clean Air Zones" and "Idle Free Zones" pledge to help improve New Jersey's air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

A Guide to Greening Your Home, School, Community & Workplace

Pesticide Free Zones (PFZ)

PFZ's are important for places where children and pets play--public parks, school yards, and home lawns. PFZ provides safe, healthy, living lawns and landscapes that protect the health of children, families, pets, wildlife and the environment from unnecessary exposure to toxic pesticides. Ideally, PFZ means that no chemical pest controls at all are used, but will consider the use of organically certified materials and USEPA-exempt pesticides. Print out NJEF's Pesticide Free Zone Brochure

1. Pesticide Free Zones
2. Clean and Green
3. Kids Clean Air Zones
4. Idle Free New Jersey

New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF) is urging New Jersey municipalities and counties to become Healthy School, Healthy Towns by adopting several policies that help reduce toxins, clean the air, reduce global warming, and protect public health.

Urban Environmental Institute

In 2008, NJEF and Clean Water Fund launched the Urban Environmental Institute (UEI), a leadership initiative project in Newark, NJ.

The institute was established to create the next generation of urban environmental advocates.

Read more to find out how you can be part of the environmental justice solution by taking the next UEI leadership training course.

There are tremendous pressures on New Jersey's water supply that has the state teetering on the brink of being unsustainable. In some cases, New Jersey has been a leader in adopting landmark policies - like the Global Warming Response Act of 2007. Unfortunately, we have also been slow to implement course-correcting policies and regulations - like the New Jersey Highlands Act. We can ill afford to delay. Without water, there is no life, ecology, energy, or economy.