For Immediate Release
July 23, 2025
Contact: Michelle Peal
C: (908) 313-4178
Environmental Leaders Kick Off “Enviro Fix in ‘26” Statewide Tours to Highlight Stakes in Gubernatorial Election
NEWARK, NJ - With the 2025 gubernatorial election already taking shape, environmental, health, faith, and community advocates came together in Newark today to demand bold environmental leadership from the state’s next governor. Organized by the New Jersey LCV Education Fund, the event marked the first stop in a statewide public education campaign titled “Enviro Fix in ’26.”
The Newark event focused on the urgent need for climate action, environmental justice, and community resilience as New Jersey faces worsening floods, extreme heat, and public health threats due to climate change.
“We are at a crossroads in New Jersey. The next governor will either continue down a path of pollution and rising climate risks or step up to lead us into a cleaner, healthier future for every resident—regardless of their zip code,” said Luke Pavlov, Campaign Manager, New Jersey LCV. “Our ‘Enviro Fix in ’26’ platform is a clear roadmap for candidates to follow, and we’re calling on the candidates to commit to real environmental solutions that put people first.”
At the center of the campaign is the 121-page “Enviro Fix in "26” policy guide, developed by a coalition of 25 organizations from across the environmental, public health, and social justice sectors. The agenda outlines actionable priorities for the next administration, including:
- Transitioning to 100% clean electricity
- Protecting clean drinking water and open space
- Creating good-paying union jobs in clean energy
- Lowering energy costs for working families
- Building community resilience to flooding and extreme heat
- Advancing environmental justice for historically overburdened communities
The guide is not just a vision—it’s a call to action for candidates and voters alike.
"We are in a critical era of change in our environment, and it's urgent that we address the environmental difficulties plaguing underserved, industrialized communities. There is an immediate necessity to launch community-based green development initiatives. Such programs must fuse sustainable agriculture, green technology, and ecological infrastructure to tackle pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges at the local and state level." — Tobias A. Fox, Managing Director, Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc.
“People and the planet are truly at a crossroads. As climate regulations and environmental infrastructure face growing political resistance, grassroots leadership, community engagement, and policy advocacy have never been more vital. We must come together to protect those most vulnerable—who are disproportionately impacted by climate change. I commend New Jersey LCV and Newark Science and Sustainability for convening stakeholders across sectors in the shared pursuit of equity, sustainability, and collective impact.”— Jeana Wirtenberg, Ph.D., Executive Director, Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation
“As people of faith, we have a sacred duty to care for both God's people and God's creation. In places like Newark, environmental injustice has gone on far too long, and it’s our moral obligation to act. That’s why I’m calling on the next Governor—no matter their party—to lead with bold, urgent action on clean energy, flood protection, and pollution cleanup. This is not just an environmental issue—it’s a justice issue, a health issue, and a spiritual issue. Our communities deserve better, and the time to act is now.” — Rev. Ronald Tuff, Environmental Justice Organizer, New Jersey Black Issues Convention
“At NJPEEC, we believe that clean energy isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about environmental justice, public health, and economic opportunity,” said Sharonda Allen, NJPEEC. “Communities that have borne the brunt of pollution for generations must be at the center of our transition to a cleaner, more equitable New Jersey."
“As we look ahead to New Jersey’s next governor, it’s critical that environmental justice isn’t treated as an afterthought, but as the foundation of our clean energy future. For too long, overburdened communities have suffered the worst impacts of pollution while receiving the fewest benefits from energy investments. That must change,” said Nicole Miller, Vice Chair NJPEEC. “Clean energy must be affordable, accessible, and designed with frontline communities at the center. Whether it's through reducing energy bills with programs like community solar, ensuring access to electric transportation, or prioritizing clean energy job creation in historically excluded neighborhoods, New Jersey’s next leader must commit to building a just energy transition that lifts everyone.”
The Newark event is the first in a series of statewide conversations to raise public awareness, elevate community voices, and educate voters about what’s at stake. Additional stops in cities and towns across New Jersey will be announced in the coming weeks.
To download the “Enviro Fix in ‘26” policy guide or learn more about upcoming events, visit www.njlcvef.org or contact luke.pavlov@njlcv.org.
Partner organizations for “Enviro Fix in ‘26” policy guide: NJ Audubon, Newark Science and Sustainability, Latino Action Network, NJ Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Rethink Energy NJ, Rewild, MNM Consulting, NJPEEC, NJ Policy Perspective, Duke Farms, Great Swamp Watershed Association, Isles, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Water Spirit, ANJEC, NJ Future, NJ Sustainable Business Council, NJ Conservation Foundation, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Rebuild By Design, Regional Plan Association, The Watershed Institute, American Littoral Society, and New Jersey Highlands Coalition.
About New Jersey LCV Education Fund:
The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is a nonpartisan organization that works to protect our environment by educating, engaging, and mobilizing people across the state to become more civically involved in environmental decision-making.