ANJEC

Kudos East Greenwich Environmental Commission~
On Saturday at least 18 volunteers show up to help the Environmental Commission and Green Team remove invasives in the restoration area, removing Bermuda grass in the pond, adding mulch where needed in both areas and planting two trees.

In 2023 the slump of the land carbon sink was mostly fire-driven. "In 2024, grasslands & shrublands across the tropics turned extraordinarily green, but microbes & plant tissues respired even faster, releasing roughly 2.6 billion extra tons of CO₂, a deficit equal to the annual emissions of India."

Limited carbon sequestration potential from global ecosystem restoration - Nature Geoscience The maximum carbon sequestration potential from global terrestrial ecosystem restoration efforts until 2100 is 96.9 Gt, which is equivalent to 3.7–12.0% of anthropogenic emissions until then, accordin...

We should come to terms with the fact that forest, shrubland, grassland, and wetland ecosystems cannot offset fossil fuel CO₂ emissions.

But we should still protect and restore them for biodiversity and other ecosystem benefits.

The US rescinds all offshore wind areas, ending their use for wind plants The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), ending the possibility of their future use for offshore…

The US rescinds all offshore wind areas, ending their use for wind plants #EnergySky

The NJDEP is making $30 million in Natural Climate Solutions grants available for local governments and nonprofits to support natural solutions that sequester carbon
dep.nj.gov/climatechang...

NJDEP compared the temperature of two Trenton streets – one with urban trees, and one without.
The temperature in Trenton that day was 88° with partial cloud coverage… Foresters saw nearly a 30° difference in pavement temperature and 23° difference in sidewalk temperature.
phys.org/.../2025-06-...

Kudos to Holmdel for updating their Environmental Resource Inventory. After 2 decades of suburban expansion and increasing environmental concerns, the updated ERI will serve as a guide for local officials considering sustinable zoning and land use.
holmdeltownship.com/Documen.../V...

We are anticipating severe storms this afternoon across the entire state with a flood watch issued from 2PM -6AM.
The National Weather Service has placed our entire state under a flood watch for for 2" to 4" of rain, with locally 5 or 6 inches+

Please plan ahead and stay off the roads if possible.

New Jersey Sharks YouTube video by The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey

It’s Shark Week~3 shark species live and reproduce in NJ's bays and salt marshes.
The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey and d NJ-born actor Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills 90210, Sharknado series) introduce them in this fun video straight from Barnegat Bay in celebration of Shark Week and beyond.

Take a hike to NJ’s spectacular waterfalls - New Jersey Conservation Foundation By Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Of the hundreds of fantastic outdoor places to visit in New Jersey, some of the prettiest are the state’s waterfalls. This st...

A great time for a waterfall hike is after a heavy rainfall. Cascades that are merely pretty in dry weather can quickly become spectacular after a good soaking. www.njconservation.org/waterfalls/

Borough of Keyport Seeking Volunteers for Boards, Commissions, and Committees Borough of Keyport Seeking Volunteers for Boards, Commissions, and Committees

The Borough of Keyport is looking for members of the local Environmental Commission. If you care about protecting natural resources and making your town more resilient to climate change, the time is now to step up! www.tapinto.net/towns/hazlet...

Scientists issue warning over unthinkable threat facing US island community: 'Continues to wash away' Islanders are adapting where they can.

Once a thriving community on the Chesapeake Bay, this centuries-old island is now losing up to 12 feet of shoreline each year because of rising sea levels and erosion, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Smith Island Environmental Restoration report.

It’s just one plastic bottle, one bag, one straw. But imagine that same thought echoed by billions. Suddenly, it’s not just one — it’s mountains of plastic choking our oceans, filling our landfills, and entering our food chain.
One simple swap really does make a difference!

Plastic Free July ReThink Disposable Webinar Join Us for the 2025 ReThink Disposable Webinar as we wrap up Plastic Free July As Plastic Free July comes to a close, we’re excited to invite you to our 2025 ReThink Disposable Webinar—a powerful co...

There are two opportunities to participate:
WED, JULY 30 @ 7PM EST
THURS, JULY 31 @ 3PM EST
REGISTER TODAY! act.cleanwater.org/page/174277/...

Experts warn drastic action may be necessary in communities along US East Coast: 'We're dealing with something completely unprecedented' "People were like, 'Oh, we can't talk about that. It's too complicated.'"

With sea levels rising, issues like flooding become more commonplace, with storms needing to be less and less severe to cause widespread flooding and damage. Managed retreat is a way to stave off those problems and keep towns safe from our changing climate.

Trump's EPA targets key health ruling underpinning all US greenhouse gas rules (Reuters) By Valerie Volcovici and David Shepardson

Very bad:

Montclair Bans Use Of 'Toxic Synthetic Pesticides' On Town-Owned Land The local law does not apply to private property.

"The main purpose of this ordinance was to codify into law the township's current practice of not using toxic synthetic pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) on township-owned property,... " said Deputy Mayor Andersen.

What began as a local passion project in the rural residential community of East Greenwich Township has grown into a hub of environmental education and ecological restoration frequented by members of the township and numerous visitors. www.sustainablejersey.com/news/newslet...

Microplastics found in human semen and follicular fluid | CNN Microplastics have been discovered in human follicular fluid and semen, according to new research, raising concerns about possible risks to reproductive health.

“Previous studies had already suggested this possibility, ...What did surprise us, however, is how widespread it is. This is not an isolated finding — it appears to be quite common.”

IT's TIME FOR ANJEC 2025 ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS NOMINATIONS~
The Award program recognizes exceptional projects carried out by environmental commissions and groups.The awards will be presented on Friday, October 10th at the ANJEC Environmental Congress.
anjec.org/environmenta...

Bordentown Township Committee Calls for Passage of NJ Green Amendment, Giving Every Resident the Legal Right to a Clean Environment BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, NJ — Bordentown Township this week joined dozens of other municipalities across the state to support the New Jersey Green Amendment, which supporters say will guarantee every...

Hurray for Bordentown Township and dozens of other municipalities across the state who are supporting the New Jersey Green Amendment, which supporters say will guarantee every person in the state the “fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment.”

Millburn Township Committee Votes to Support NJ Climate Superfund Act MILLBURN, NJ – One of the items on last week’s township committee agenda was supporting the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, which, according to the NJ Legislature website, “imposes liability on...

Kudos to Millbur! for supporting the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, which, according to the NJ Legislature website, “imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes a program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments.”

Trump administration grants two Indiana plants ‘relief’ from toxic pollution regulations The Trump administration granted two Indiana chemical and sterilization plants an extension to comply with EPA pollution regulations.

Across a series of four proclamations, the White House gave the roughly 90 facilities — chemical manufacturers, sterilization facilities, power plants — an additional two years to meet hazardous air pollution rules set by the EPA under the Biden administration.

New study reaches landmark conclusion about impact of wind turbines on human health: 'Not a cause-and-effect relationship' "Not saying some people weren't having a reaction though as the mind can be a powerful tool."

A new peer-reviewed study from researchers at Poland's Adam Mickiewicz University has found no evidence that wind turbine noise causes mental harm, putting to rest a persistent and unsubstantiated claim that clean energy projects may be harming our health.

Meet the moths that map the stars to fly long distances It's an impressive feat for Bogong moths, whose brains are smaller than the size of a grain of rice, to rely on the night sky for their odyssey, said study author David Dreyer with Lund University in ...

While birds are known to routinely navigate by starlight, the moths are the first known invertebrate to navigate across long distances by the stars.
When temperatures rise, nocturnal Bogong moths fly 620 miles to cool down in caves by the Australian Alps. They later return home to breed and die.

In New Jersey, Benefits Bloom in Tiny Forests

Great idea from Groundwork Elizabeth, and the Cranford Env. Commission is exploring this project too!
Microforests do most of the things large forests do: absorb carbon from the air, soak up storm water, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce noise and air pollution, and cool the air in summer.

At community eco fair, the Westfield Green Team gave out these awesome mosquito buckets, signing up residents for Community Solar and handing out Skip the Stuff Tip Cards.
One pizza shop owner shared that his inventory costs are down 75% and he’s saving so much money. Easy and commonsense!

It’s just one plastic bottle, one bag, one straw. But imagine that same thought echoed by billions. Suddenly, it’s mountains of plastic choking our oceans, filling our landfills, and entering our food chain.
One simple swap really does make a difference!
Are you ready to be part of the solution?

Plastic Free July ReThink Disposable Webinar Join Us for the 2025 ReThink Disposable Webinar as we wrap up Plastic Free July As Plastic Free July comes to a close, we’re excited to invite you to our 2025 ReThink Disposable Webinar—a powerful conversation about reducing single-use plastics and creating lasting change in our communities. This special event will feature a dynamic panel of experts, including a state legislator, a celebrated chef, a school partner, and a ReThink Disposable business owner, each sharing their unique perspective on how sustainable practices are transforming policy, education, food service, and local economies.

hLet’s rethink what’s possible—together.
There are two opportunities to participate:
WED, JULY 30 @ 7PM EST
THURS, JULY 31 @ 3PM EST
REGISTER TODAY: tinyurl.com/2fzepua7

When you plant milkweed to support monarch butterflies, the planting arrangement matters. Research shows
seeds planted on the edge/perimeter of the garden had 2.5 to 4 times more abundant eggs and larva than milkweed plants surrounded or intermixed in a garden.
-> www.frontiersin.org/.../10.3389/...