Elections matter.
It's no surprise to anyone who knows me, even a little, that the environment is always one of the lenses through which I view candidates for political office. I became an environmentalist at the age of 4. It was about then that I started to understand that my mom would roll up the car windows (back when most car windows only had crank handles) to keep the bad air out of the car as we drove past the chemical manufacturing plant on the way to Nana's house. I grew up in Philly as an asthmatic kid who was in and out of the hospital a lot. The environment became my first and enduring love, my passion and my profession. Having been a sick kid whose struggles with asthma were made worse by poor air quality, I viscerally understand the importance of environmental protection and restoration to the everyday lives of my nearly 9 million fellow New Jersey residents
We are at a critical point of protecting and restoring clean water, clean air and open spaces including farmland in the great Garden State. New Jersey is one of the states most affected by climate change. It experiences a weather event that causes at least 1 billion dollars in damage, on average, every 32 weeks, and they are becoming more frequent and intense. From 1980 to 2024 (as of Sept. 10, 2024), there were 72 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect New Jersey.
It is critical for the public health, safety and welfare of New Jersey residents and businesses that our next governor and state legislators take environmental policies seriously. That's why the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissioners has partnered with the New Jersey League
of Conservation Voters Education Fund to identify and outline the key environmental challenges and policies we need our next governor and class of legislators to vigorously pursue.
Enviro Fix in '26 is a comprehensive and nonpartisan environmental agenda designed to set the priorities for our state's next governor. This bold agenda highlights a series of popular steps that would protect New Jersey's clean air, drinking water and existing natural resources - while
lowering costs for working families and creating jobs for union workers. Enviro Fix in '26 brings together environment, public health, faith and local community advocates to lay out key environmental and health issues facing New Jersey in 2026 and beyond.
Drawing on the expertise of over 25 partner organizations - including environmental, justice, community-based, health, student and civil rights groups - this broad and holistic compendium illustrates environmental, public health and equity challenges facing New Jersey and our communities, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.
Steps for the environment
Enviro Fix in '26 focuses on six key goals:
1. Building and modernizing a clean energy future.
2. Safeguarding New Jersey families and businesses from climate change
3. Ensuring our New Jersey residents are able to breathe clean air
4. Preserving open spaces and expanding access to parks
5. Expanding public transportation with clean and reliable options so every New Jersey resident can get around – regardless of their ZIP code.
6. Safeguarding our statewide clean water resources
As you decide whom you will vote for. I encourage you to review the Enviro Fix in ‘26 policy guide and research where the candidates on your ballot stand on the most pressing environment issues. It can be found at NJlcvef.org/issues/environmental-fix-26
Jennifer Coffey is the executive director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, or ANJEC. It’s mission is to promote local action to protect and restore New Jersey’s natural resources and to ensure healthy communities for today and the future