Last month, Trisha Dello Iacono facilitated a PLAY-IN for Climate Action at Mill Hill Park in Trenton, New Jersey. The PLAY-IN was part of a larger action that included parents, concerned citizens, health professionals, elected officials, clean energy business owners, and environmental advocates. But having moms and children in attendance at the Department of Environmental Protection Headquarters that day symbolized exactly what was at stake.
In 2011, Governor Chris Christie abruptly ended New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). After a lawsuit brought on by Environment New Jersey and the NRDC, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that the administration had acted illegally in making such a major change in policy without providing an opportunity for public participation.
As part of the PLAY-IN, Moms Clean Air Force children marched with signs to the NJ DEP building to urge the administration to rejoin RGGI. Children and their mothers testified together requesting that the administration rejoin RGGI, and take steps to protect our children’s futures from climate pollution.
The EPA recently proposed the Clean Power Plan, the first national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. By 2016, New Jersey will be required to meet the goals set by these standards.
“The Clean Power Plan will require states – including New Jersey – to clean up dangerous carbon pollution from power plants. Rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – a tried and tested program – would put our state back on the right track.” ~ State Senator Robert Menendez, New Jersey