Climate Resilience

We will not be convening the climate resilient committee in 2025. This committee will sunset, and work on climate resilience will be integrated into other committees.

1. Curate information about resources and promising practices to promote via JWW newsletters, website, and committee meetings. This will include promoting the EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities Tool (CRWU) and regular “show and tell” committee agenda items. 
2. Review and develop comments on the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) portion of the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threat (NJ PACT) rules. 
3. Create or find a visual roadmap showing the continuum of least to most climate-resilient water utilities. Utilize that information to host a session for local government decision-makers focused on building climate resilience, linking to operational and capital needs, and showing a path toward funding for implementation. Potential avenues for the session include the JWW Membership Meeting or Annual Conference, the League of Municipalities Conference, the ANJEC Environmental Congress, and/or RPA’s annual conference.  
4. Explore the interest for existing programs (like GI champions, Green Teams, and Environmental Commissioners) to create climate resilience champions. Create guidance to establish climate resilience champions.

1. Build a visual roadmap showing the continuum of least to most resilient water utilities regarding flooding. Conduct utility interviews to inform the product.
2. Collaborate with the Green Infrastructure Committee to host a session for local government decision-makers focused on building climate resilience, utilizing the roadmap item, linking to operational and capital needs, and showing a path towards funding for implementation.
3. Gather input across the collaborative, especially from water utilities, on the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) portion of the NJ PACT rules once they are released and submit recommendations during the public comment period.

1. Host an information session for utility staff and local government decision-makers that will include case studies featuring the successful use of federal or state funds on climate resilience projects.
2. Create a proposal for a visual roadmap showing the continuum from least to most resilient water utilities, as well as on-ramps for each phase, and explore opportunities for funding to build it out.
3. Gather input across the collaborative, especially from water utilities, on the NJ PACT rules after they are released and submit recommendations during the public comment period.