In a continuous effort towards a stronger New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 89 on October 29, 2019 appointing the State’s first Chief Resilience Officer, mandating the development of a Scientific Report on Climate Change , and establishing a Climate and Flood Resilience Program within DEP. That program has since evolved into the Office of Climate Resilience, led by current Chief Resilience Officer Nick Angarone. The Office of Climate Resilience promotes the long-term climate adaptation and resilience of New Jersey’s economy, communities, infrastructure and natural resources through the Coastal Management Program, Resilient NJ, and Blue Acres.

Perhaps most important, for the first time, the Governor made clear that it was the policy of the State of New Jersey that executive branch departments and agencies take proactive and coordinated efforts to protect public health and safety and to promote and protect the physical, economic, and social vitality and resilience of NJ’s communities from the current and anticipated impacts of climate change.

Executive Order 89 also established the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience. In 2020, the Council developed and published the Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy , the policy framework underlying the State’s resilience work today.”

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