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Living with the Future in Mind Goals and Indicators For New Jersey's Quality of Life 1999 Sustainable State Project Report NEW JERSEY FUTURE May, 1999 Dear Fellow New Jerseyan: Homemakers from Cape May. Scientists from Rutgers University. Environmental activists from age 8 to 80. Corporate economists. The voices of these and thousands of other New Jerseyans speak from the pages of this report. Over the last four years we've been listening and asking New Jerseyans to describe the quality of life they'd like to live, and the kind of New Jersey they would like to leave for their children and grandchildren. In conferences, workshops and roundtables across New Jersey we've gathered these ideas and aspirations; and then balanced them against the reality of the information available today for measuring our progress. Time and again we heard people wish for a "Dow Jones Industrial Average" for the way we live our lives — a measure available each morning to let us know if we're on the right track to a bet- ter future. In a sense, that's what this report is: a collection of the goals to which we aspire, together with the best data available on the trends influencing our course — trends we influence in turn through our individual decision-making. New Jersey is at the forefront of a small number of states aiming to become "sustainable." Around the globe, thousands of communities have embraced the same aim of "sustainable devel- opment" — development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Development that does not favor economic, social or environmental goals, but which considers them in balance with each other, and with our future. New Jersey Future is grateful to the Administration of Governor Christine Todd Whitman for serv- ing as our partner in charting this new course for New Jersey's future. As our cover says, the next step for all of us is Living With the Future in Mind. John J. Degnan, Chair New Jersey Future Introduction hat kind of New Jersey efficient and just. The word "sustainability" is W are we passing on to the next generation? That question has dominated the thinking and activities of New Jersey Future since its incep- growing in use and popularity around the world as a way of expressing what we're trying to achieve: an efficient economy, a healthy environ- ment and a just society. We can't have a "sustain- able" state unless all three of these systems — tion 12 years ago. In 1995, we launched the economy, society and environment — are func- process that resulted in the report you now hold: tioning in harmony. a "report card" on the long-term trends that can Achieving a Sustainable State means making enhance or destroy our quality of life, as well as the hard tradeoffs and balanced judgments that the lives of those who inherit the Garden State take everyone's interests into account — includ- from us. ing those of our children and grandchildren. The 11 goals offered in this report are the product of a creative community dialog about our The Next Step common future, drawing on the knowledge and Although this report is an important and neces- concerns of New Jerseyans from all walks of life: sary first step, much work remains to be done if environmental and business leaders, social we are to see this project bear sustainable fruit. activists, scientists, government officials and citi- We must continue to fill in gaps in our knowl- zens of all ages. edge of trends affecting our future. We must set The 41 indicators were selected — and in meaningful targets, or benchmarks, for each indi- some cases, created — by economic, environmen- cator. We must commit, as citizens, businesses tal and social experts to measure specific progress and government officials, to achieving these toward our goals, and were reviewed by citizens benchmarks — and eventually, our goals of a sus- as part of our community dialog. tainable and fulfilling life for all New Jerseyans. Together, these goals and indicators function The partnership that created this report is an as new eyeglasses for New Jersey, helping us unusual one. Our nonprofit, nonpartisan group is see our future differently so we can do things focused on New Jersey's future, both tomorrow differently. and in the next millenium. The State of New That "we" is important. The very reason for Jersey must balance its considerations of the offering goals is so that all sectors of New Jersey future with a necessary focus on the needs of the society can agree about what is important and present. Citizens, business leaders, local officials, work together for our common good. In some social activists and environmentalists have all places in this report we can hold government or provided important information and perspective. business accountable for shaping a higher quality, It has proven to be the best of collaborations in more sustainable way of life; but in many others, moving us toward a sustainable future — but we we must look to our own actions. can go no farther without your continued com- mitment to achieving the goals and moving the A "Sustainable" State indicators. All involved in this report share a similar motiva- The purpose of this report is to inspire us to tion and concern: ensuring that the New Jersey act, as a community, in achieving these goals — we pass on to our descendents will be healthy, in moving toward a sustainable way of life. s Table of Contents What is Sustainable Development? ..............................4 Goal: Healthy People ..............................35 How to use this report ...................................................6 Indicator 22: Life expectancy...............................36 Goal: Economic Vitality ............................8 Indicator 23: Infectious diseases ..........................37 Indicator 1: Income................................................9 Indicator 24: Asthma............................................38 Indicator 2: Unemployment ................................10 Indicator 25: Workplace fatalities ........................39 Indicator 3: Productivity ......................................11 Indicator 4: Poverty..............................................12 Goal: Efficient Transportation and Indicator 5: Gross State Product (GSP) ................13 Land Use................................................40 Indicator 6: Energy efficiency ..............................14 Indicator 26: Need for road and bridge repairs.....................................41 Goal: Equity ...........................................15 Indicator 27: Vehicle miles traveled ....................42 Indicator 7: Equal pay ..........................................16 Indicator 28: Workplace transportation Indicator 8: Legislators' reflection of options......................................................43 population ................................................17 Indicator 29: Traffic fatalities ...............................44 Indicator 9: Disparities in infant mortality .........18 Goal: Natural and Ecological Integrity.....45 Goal: Strong Community, Indicator 30: Fresh water wetland losses .............46 Culture & Recreation ..............................19 Indicator 31: Nesting water bird populations .....47 Indicator 10: Newspaper circulation....................20 Indicator 32: River health/Dissolved oxygen ......48 Indicator 11: Crime rate.......................................21 Indicator 33: Marine water quality ......................49 Indicator 12: Open space available for public recreation ......................................22 Goal: Protected Natural Resources...........50 Indicator 34: Energy consumption ......................51 Goal: Quality Education ..........................23 Indicator 35: Farmland ........................................52 Indicator 13: Graduation rates.............................24 Indicator 36: Beach and bay closings ..................53 Indicator 14: Student/teacher ratio......................25 Indicator 37: Preserved and developed land .......54 Indicator 15: Standardized test scores .................26 Indicator 16: Access to higher education ............27 Goal: Minimal Pollution and Waste .........55 Indicator 38: Greenhouse gas releases .................56 Goal: Good Government ..........................28 Indicator 39: Drinking water quality...................57 Indicator 17: Knowledge of government.............29 Indicator 40: Total solid waste production..........58 Indicator 18: Voter turnout..................................30 Indicator 41: Air pollution ...................................59 Goal: Decent Housing .............................31 Glossary........................................................................60 Indicator 19: Rent affordability ...........................32 About New Jersey Future .............................................62 Indicator 20: Home prices vs. income .................33 Acknowledgements ......................................................64 Indicator 21: Housing choice...............................34 What is Sustainable Development? "Development that meets the needs of We can not degrade any one of the systems that support us without bringing down the other the present without compromising the two. Sacrificing the future for the present is not ability of future generations to meet sustainable. As depicted in the symbol at left, when their own needs." all three systems are healthy and in balance, our — THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (THE BRUNDTLAND COMMISSION, 1987) state and our civilization will be healthy, just and efficient. A History of Sustainable Development Healthy Society Environment During the late 1970s and early 1980s, a number of a independent scientists, activists and other policy sustainable state makers worldwide began working on responses to Just Efficient problems where issues of the environment linked with human development and progress. They Economy began to use the term "sustainability" to describe the goal of joining economic development with ecological health. In 1987, the United Nations' World "S ustainability" — or the usual term of art, "sustainable development" — Commission on Environment and Development means protecting the resources and sys- released a report, "Our Common Future," which tems that support us today so that they are still brought the terms "sustainability" and "sustainable available to future generations. In short, it means development" into widespread use. preserving our civilization and the things we hold The definition quoted earlier is the one used dear in perpetuity, as well as enhancing today's most often today throughout the world. In defin- quality of life. ing sustainability, the UN World Commission The symbol above is a graphic representation offered these five key concepts: of a sustainable state. Each ring represents one of s The needs of the future must not be sacrificed the three systems that support humanity: the econ- to the demands of the present. omy, the environment and our society. Each of s Humanity's economic future is linked to the these rings is connected to, and dependent upon, integrity of natural systems. the others. To be sustainable — that is, to have a s The present world system is not sustainable dignified and still prosperous human civilization in because it is not meeting the needs of many, the future — each of these three systems must be especially the poor. healthy and in balance. In truth, you can not alter s Protecting the environment is impossible unless one without affecting all three. we improve the economic prospects of the This is the essence of sustainable living. Earth's poorest peoples. Beautiful beaches mean little if you're unemployed. s We must act to preserve as many options as possi- A good job doesn't mean much if you have to ble for future generations, since they have the worry about being mugged on the walk home. A right to determine their own needs for themselves. safe, friendly neighborhood isn't a haven if its air is Representatives from nearly every nation on not breathable. Earth adopted these principles in the form of inter- 4 national treaties and agreements at the 1992 Learning to recognize such linkages between United Nations "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro, the economic, social and environmental impacts Brazil. The non-binding agreement signed by the of our decisions is the essence of sustainable living. world nations is known commonly as "Agenda 21." At the same time, a "Global Forum" of citi- The Sustainable State Project zen groups from around the world developed New Jersey policy makers got their first look at grass-roots initiatives designed to monitor gov- sustainable development efforts in action with a ernments and push sustainability efforts beyond 1994 fact-finding trip to the Netherlands. what traditional activities were able to achieve. There, Whitman administration officials, mem- New Jersey's Sustainable State Project repre- bers of the Legislature and representatives from sents the first effort of this scale within the non-governmental organizations saw firsthand the United States to achieve sustainability on a Netherlands' success in building consensus around statewide basis. goals and involving business and private citizens in the realization of those goals. One result is that New Jersey's Efforts major corporations and environmental regulators To date, the most comprehensive effort we have in Holland were able to reach broad agreements, or made in New Jersey to achieve sustainable devel- covenants, containing new strategies for reaching opment is the State Development and Redevel- broadly accepted environmental goals. opment Plan. This "smart growth" plan was In follow-up to the trip, the State of New Jersey adopted in 1992 to counter suburban sprawl and and New Jersey Future hosted the first Sustainable urban disinvestment by channeling development State Leadership Conference in May 1995 at into new and existing centers. Princeton University. Nearly 200 leaders from busi- While not binding on municipalities, the ness, the environmental movement, civic groups State Plan's strength comes from its use by state and academia met to start the official process of government in regulatory and investment deci- bringing sustainable development to New Jersey. sion-making. To complement the plan's emphasis That conference provided the impetus for a on protecting open space and encouraging appro- broad public process to create goals and indicators priate development, New Jersey voters in beginning in 1996. The goals in this report were November 1998 approved the expenditure of initially developed and refined through a series of funds to protect approximately half of the state's round table discussions and meetings around New remaining open land from development by the Jersey involving varied business, environmental, year 2010. academic, government and civic leaders. The goals A sustainable state cannot be achieved with- were then subjected to review on a word-by-word out tackling land use. Land use is at the heart of basis in regional forums and in dozens of small many environmental, social and economic issues working sessions around the state. For each goal, a facing the state. The decision to build an office team of prominent experts and academics was campus in a rural area, instead of within an exist- organized to select and create indicators. The ing town or city, has an obvious environmental resultant draft indicators were then subjected to impact through loss of open space and increased extensive public review, alongside the draft goals, local traffic and pollution; but also great social in statewide conferences, regional workshops and and economic impact. The increased local rev- countless small working sessions. enues brought by the campus will be offset by the By articulating what we need to achieve sus- need to impose additional local taxes for new tainable development, and by creating a clear roads, sewers and services — not only for the way to track our progress, New Jersey takes its campus, but also for the new homes, schools and place alongside the Netherlands and other global stores the additional workers will need. The social leaders in the forefront of the sustainable devel- cost is high as well: the rural character of the opment movement. Where we go from here is up community will be forever changed. to each of us. s 5 How to use this report his report contains 11 goals shaped with extensive public input, T which embody the highest aspirations of New Jerseyans from all walks of life. Each goal is accompanied by indicators for measuring our progress: the critical trends that shape our future every day and our ability to reach these goals. Taken together, these goals and indicators enable us for the first time to clearly see these trends and how they affect our progress. This report could have a profound effect on our collective future — if each of us watches the indicators and thinks about how each of our decisions will affect them, and ultimately our goals. be aware of and cover these long-term trends T o be successful in their purpose, these indi- cators must be used to guide change — in directly. Perhaps more importantly, these goals and what we pay attention to as a especially the indicators provide critical context to community, in our personal priorities, in our the reporting of news. They tell us the general con- collective decision-making and policy development ditions of our economy, environment and society and in our individual and organizational behavior. and offer linkages among these interdependent sys- General knowledge about the trends that shape tems. Are our economy, environment or society the future is certain to have some effect on our getting stronger in meaningful, lasting ways? These behavior. However, achieving the long-term pros- indicators also can help answer the following perity to which we aspire will require specific types important question: What is the significance of of action. Where do you fit in? any given event to the current and future well- Personal Lifestyle. Indicators can challenge us being of New Jerseyans? personally to explore how the way we live affects Public Policy. For political debate to be mean- the world around us, and how our individual deci- ingful, it needs to be grounded in facts, mutual sions move these indicators in a positive or negative understanding of long-term goals and a common direction. They can help us better understand how frame of reference. Candidate A accuses candidate each individual makes a difference, and guide us in B of being soft on the environment. Candidate C taking actions on our own and as a community. makes claims about improving the economy. How Media. Newspapers and broadcasters can now can an informed citizenry evaluate these claims? 6 This report will enable all New Jerseyans to model for additional research projects, such as clearly see how we are doing in the areas impor- devising a set of institutional indicators. The indi- tant to us. cators can provide context for applying everyday Business and Economic Development. lessons in every subject to the real world and to These indicators will provide leading information where students live. on the long-term direction of society, and the The Civic Sector. Nonprofit and volunteer role the market, and individual companies, can groups can link their work to the broader cause of play within it. These indicators can be used for creating a more sustainable society, and use the market analysis, and to spur the development of indicators to evaluate their efforts in a broader products and services that will advance our context. We all do good work. How can we all progress toward a more sustainable society. work well together to meet our common goals? Perhaps most importantly, they can enable busi- Foundations and philanthropic organizations can ness leaders to see how each decision will impact use the indicators to help set their funding priori- society as a whole, for better or worse. ties as we move toward a common vision. s Education. These indicators can be used as teaching tools to educate students about sustain- Technical notes and source information on the data used in ability and to promote an understanding of the this report are available from New Jersey Future as a techni- systems that support us. They can also serve as a cal appendix. For a copy, call 609/393-0008. How we chose the indicators I ndicators chosen for this report represent the best collection of data available today for measuring our quality of life as we move toward sustainability. To be included in this report, the data were required to: s report exclusively on New Jersey's statewide trends, s measure significant trends that impact our progress toward the sustainable state goals, s receive regular updates, s offer historic trends, and s be clearly and readily understood. We particularly sought indicators that would highlight the interde- pendence of social, economic and environmental systems. At the bottom of each goal and indicator page we have identified knowledge gaps in our understanding of particular issues. These gaps point to the need for additional research, and the creation of new indicators specifically designed to measure our progress toward sustainability. s 7 Economic Vitality GOAL: An economy that is competitive, diverse and attractive to business; that maintains and expands assets and capital; that provides a variety of entry-, middle- and high-level jobs; and that promotes the well-being of New Jersey's communities and its workforce. ew Jersey's economy is the "fuel" which drives almost N everything else that happens in the state — it shapes our environment and enriches our social and cultural offerings. Our Society Environment state's economy has undergone a major transition in the latter half Q Y of the 20th century, moving away from dependence on E W R manufacturing toward a more varied mix of advanced technology Economy and service industries. While New Jersey ranks ninth among the T states for population and 45th in size, we outperform our rank in several key categories: we have the third largest concentration of corporate headquarters, the second highest average income in the nation and we place sixth in the number of patents received. Amid this abundance of wealth and productivity we also have great disparities between our rich and poor citizens. What we know Q Income increasing ...........................................................................................................................................page 9 W Unemployment cyclical and decreasing.........................................................................................................page 10 E Productivity increasing ...................................................................................................................................page 11 R Poverty cyclical and increasing.......................................................................................................................page 12 T Gross State Product (GSP) increasing..............................................................................................................page 13 Y Energy efficiency backsliding..........................................................................................................................page 14 What we don't know • Measuring overall growth is less meaningful if we can't differentiate between the positive and negative components of that growth. We do not know the proportion of economic growth that comes from people buying things that they wish they didn't need — such as security systems for their homes, cigarettes, health care, or automobile repairs after an accident — or at higher cost to cover expenses like pollution cleanup. • Some aspects of our growing state economy are hard to measure, such as the disparity of opportunities among New Jerseyans. • The proportion of our economic growth that comes from a drawing down of our "natural capital" — the environmental resources consumed for free that are not restored, such as woodland cleared for new houses or offices. • The proportion of our economy that depends on the unsustainable use of fossil fuels, which cannot be replenished. 8 INDICATOR Income Income Q Average annual disposable income among New Jerseyans (personal income remaining after taxes): Increasing 25,000 Dollars (constant 1992) 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 Importance Economic than they can replace themselves. New Jersey has the second-highest per Our economy is only really strong in Especially in the long term, we may capita income in the nation. The the long term if it is sustainable — that wind up missing the resources that we amount of money earned by the aver- is, an economy that combines high deplete. age New Jerseyan has risen impressively incomes with a healthy distribution of for many years, even at a time when those incomes, clean and environmen- Social tally sound production processes and Rising incomes are a resource. We can people in many other places struggle to products we want to buy. use this money to invest in our homes, get by. However, our rise in per capita communities and our children's educa- income has not eliminated all of our economic problems. The gap between Environmental tion. However, rising income can also Sometimes what we call economic signify the loss of free time as we work the richest and poorest of us is large, growth may really consist of converting harder. This can mean we have less of and has grown during the last decades. our natural wealth, such as woodlands, ourselves to invest. At the same time, into cash. But this is not a net creation income is not rising equally for all New of wealth if it consumes non-renewable Jerseyans. resources, or renewable resources faster Income Inequality Index Less 0.50 Things to think about Knowledge gaps equal We do not have a consis- • Most of us want money to keep our families 0.45 healthy and safe, buy a nice home and enjoy tently collected measure quality recreation. However, if we work too of income inequality. Also, 0.40 to provide a true picture of hard, we may not have time to enjoy these things. the rewards that we get 0.35 from our income, we must More • We often spend part of our income to remedy weigh income against equal 0.30 social and environmental problems, as when 1979 1989 such issues as the cost of we purchase household security systems, car living, how much free time s US s New Jersey alarms and filtered water; similarly, a portion remains after our work is When index equals 1, one person has of our taxes is spent for prisons and pollution all the income; when index equals 0, done and job satisfaction. income shared equally by all cleanup. SOURCES: US BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, US CENSUS AND NJ DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 9 INDICATOR Unemployment W Unemployment Percent of the state's total labor force unemployed: Cyclical and decreasing 10 Percent unemployed 8 6 4 2 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 Importance stagnation for the state. Those who Social This indicator measures our ability lack jobs are less able to buy, which Communities with high unemploy- to put bread on the table, and our also detracts from the economy. ment suffer a host of other social view of self-worth. The official problems including increased rates unemployment rate has taken on Environmental of crime, domestic violence and Lack of a job hinders our ability to substance abuse. Some of these great importance with public offi- care about the environment as we problems can be reduced by the cials because they understand it is become necessarily preoccupied creation of more jobs — a solution the fundamental measure of per- with daily survival. People with that costs less and works more sonal well-being. They also under- secure jobs also pay taxes that go effectively than some other efforts stand that elections can be won or toward cleaning up hazardous by police, counselors and doctors lost as the rate rises or falls. waste sites and other environmen- to fight these problems. Regional Economic tal priorities. Some of the sectors and ethnic disparities in unemploy- Unemployment means financial with the most job growth are in ment rates in New Jersey may hardship for families. High unem- service or "thinking" sectors with divide us as a society. ployment is also a sign of economic work that offers minimal harm to the environment. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Many European countries have unemployment rates about twice as high as This indicator does not measure ours; and with financial crises in East Asia and other regions, many underemployment, a situation countries have unemployment rates higher than 20 percent. The U.S. where people have a job or jobs unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in November 1998. but are not challenged by their work and not encouraged to grow • Teenagers and other young people often have a harder time finding work — nor situations where people than people of other ages; yet it is during our younger years that often we hold undesirable jobs to make establish our work ethic and generate opportunities for the future. ends meet. The unemployment rate also does not measure the • Many economists consider 95 percent employment to be the maximum number of people who have given employment that our economy can sustain, or "full employment." When up on finding a job and have unemployment is under 5 percent, some economists believe the tight labor dropped out of the labor market. market and risk of increased inflation have the potential to send the economy into recession. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 10 INDICATOR Productivity Productivity E The amount of Gross State Product produced per laborer: Increasing 70,000 (in constant 1992 dollars) Output per worker 60,000 50,000 40,000 1980 1985 1990 1995 Importance wages and living standards for Social Higher productivity means getting New Jersey's workers — although Through higher productivity, we more output from the same many people feel that they still can win the opportunity to live amount of work. It can let us enjoy work as long and hard as ever. well materially while still having more fruits from the same amount time to spend with our families of labor and live better, with more Environmental and communities. Doing so will Another measure of productivity strengthen the social condition of time to spend with our families (currently not available) would be our state. Not all people get this and for recreation. Productivity has how much we can produce from opportunity, or make this choice — increased during most of the last the materials that we use. As our but high productivity presents the 20 years. "environmental productivity" rises, possibility. Economic we can put less of a burden on nat- Rising productivity is key to a ural resources while still producing healthy business sector in New just as much. This is one of the Jersey. It increases profits and keeps most powerful ways we have to companies competitive in global protect nature. markets. It can also lead to higher Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Increases in productivity can, in some cases, concentrate the This measure considers only how much jobs of many into a single well-paying job. we produce, but not what we produce or whether we cause harm when we • The more we are able to produce, the more important it becomes produce it. It doesn't consider, for that we make careful choices about which products we make and example, increases in pollution that come about how cleanly and safely we make them. Otherwise, our high with increased production, or increases productivity can work against our environmental goals. in the energy or natural resources consumed. A better measure would adjust for those costs. SOURCES: US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 11 INDICATOR Poverty Poverty R Percent of New Jerseyans who fall below the official poverty level: Cyclical and increasing 14 12 Percent in poverty 10 8 6 4 1980 1985 1990 1995 Importance Economic hinders us from participating in conser- We live in the second wealthiest state in High poverty rates impose costs on the vation efforts, even though our future the world's wealthiest nation — but state welfare system and can slow our depends on healthy surroundings. nearly 10 percent of us suffer from economic expansion. Poverty is correlat- poverty. During some years, more than ed with poor health, reduced training of Social workers, decreased opportunity, higher Poverty can be very destructive to our one-quarter of us who are black live crime rates and other factors that inhib- social fabric. Inequities between races below the poverty line. The percent of it economic growth. and social classes deepen social divi- New Jerseyans who have too little sions and create tensions that under- money to provide for their basic needs is a measure of our economy, our values Environmental mine a healthy society. The success of Understandably, concern for the natural our state depends on our ability to and our priorities. environment is often secondary to basic move forward and react to problems as survival needs for those of us who live a unified society; poverty works against below the poverty threshold. Poverty our ability to do that. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • During most years, the percentage of blacks living in poverty is double, or The poverty rate is more than double, the percentage of other New Jerseyans living in poverty. considered by many to be based on antiquated • Twice as many of us live in poverty as are unemployed. This means that calculations of the cost of many of us are among the "working poor" — we are employed but still live living. Many people who below the poverty threshold. are above the formal poverty line may never- • An increase in the number of part-time and low-skill service industry jobs theless be struggling that do not provide a "living wage" is one reason why more working people economically. are unable to make ends meet. SOURCE: US BUREAU OF THE CENSUS 12 INDICATOR Gross State Product (GSP) GSP T 300 In dollars per year: Increasing Billions of dollars (constant 1992) 250 200 150 100 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 Importance measures show less improvement than Environmental The Gross State Product (GSP) measures GSP — and often suggest that we are If we look only at the GSP to find out the goods and services our economy less well off now than in past years. In how we are doing, then we miss much produces. New Jersey's GSP has any consideration of state production, it of what is happening in New Jersey. We increased sharply since the mid-1970s, is important to ask careful questions: may see the GSP rise, but we may not even after adjusting for inflation. GSP How has such production been distrib- see the forests and farms that have dis- has long been considered the most uted among our population? How much appeared, the pollution that may have important measure of the state's well- better off has it made us? What have we entered our rivers and coastal areas, the being. However, GSP is flawed in that it given up? And most importantly, how animals that may have disappeared for- does not differentiate between the desir- long can we sustain it? ever, or any other environmental able and undesirable things we spend changes. our money on. For instance, Florida's Economic GSP is the traditional measure of basic Social GSP for 1992 suggests a state in the economic activity. When it grows rapid- GSP shows that our state has become middle of a wonderful spending boom, ly, we are considered to be in good richer, but it does not tell who among caused in fact by the high expense of times. When the growth slows, we may us has received that wealth. It would be rebuilding after Hurricane Andrew. be in a recession or depression. possible for GSP to give a rosy picture of Some people have proposed alternative Although GSP tells us how much is our state even during times when crime measures of well-being that add the being produced by our economy, it does rates were rising, when poverty was value of economic production, as meas- not tell us how fairly it is distributed, or high and when many people could not ured by the GSP, but then subtract such what environmental or social costs we afford health insurance. costs as natural resource depletion, pay for growth. crime and accidents. These alternative Things to think about Knowledge gaps • New Jerseyans produce nearly $200 GSP tells us how much has been produced, but it does not tell billion in goods and services a year. us what has been produced. Recent research suggests that This is more than many countries, many people find themselves paying for things that they wish including Denmark, Thailand, they did not have to pay for, such as security systems and Turkey, Argentina, South Africa, divorce proceedings. It is important to have a measure that dis- Greece, Austria and many others — tinguishes among the positive and negative contents of the GSP. usually much more. SOURCES: US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND NJ STATE DATA CENTER 13 INDICATOR Energy Efficiency Y Energy Efficiency Economic output per unit of energy consumed: Backsliding 110 of economic output per energy 100 consumed (Millions BTU) Dollars (constant 1992) 90 80 70 60 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 Importance Economic warming, which may have disas- This indicator measures how much Efficient businesses have a power- trous environmental effects. energy our economy consumes for ful advantage over their inefficient Impressive reductions in the use of each dollar it produces. Energy effi- competitors. They pay less when polluting fossil fuels is available to ciency is a measure of economic they buy energy and then pay less us from technologies like compact competitiveness. Most of our ener- again when they are spared from fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) and gy comes from sources outside expensive cleanup of pollution. cars that get high gas mileage. For New Jersey (oil, coal, nuclear, natu- Fluctuations in the price of fuel instance, a CFL is four times as effi- ral gas) and creates large environ- have less effect on efficient compa- cient as an incandescent bulb, lasts mental impacts. As our energy effi- nies and government regulators 10 times longer and saves about ciency increases we become less have less need to focus on them. $40 per bulb over its lifetime, yet is dependent upon our out-of-state Energy efficiency is a mark of a still not widely accepted and used. sources of energy and better able to well-run company. Lower energy reduce the amount of pollution expenses also result in more dis- Social posable income for individuals. Although laws and government and greenhouse gases that we emit. regulations play a large part in our Getting more out of each unit of energy means paying less when we Environmental energy choices, reducing energy The production of most energy is consumption will require small heat our homes, drive our cars, very harmful to the environment, changes and choices in all of our purchase products and run our as evidenced by pollution, strip lives that can only come about industries. Those savings can mining, radioactive waste, or radi- through social awareness. It means become an investment instead in cally changing the landscape with driving less, buying more efficient new businesses, in education and dams. Massive burning of fossil homes and appliances and choos- in new technologies. fuels is the major cause of global ing sustainable energy sources. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Even though we have access to better technologies every year, some We need measures of economic resource aspects of our energy efficiency have actually fallen in recent years. efficiency that include more than just energy, but also cover our use of timber, • The state and federal governments often give cash incentives to people land, water, metals and other materials. who use more energy-efficient technology. Recent programs promoting We also need better data on how much of efficient equipment have included refrigerators and light bulbs. the energy production upon which our • With the deregulation of the electric industry, we may be able to economy relies comes from renewable choose where our electricity comes from and how it is made. and sustainable sources. SOURCES: THE US ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE NJ DATA CENTER 14 Equity GOAL: A more equitable distribution of the positive and negative products of civilization among New Jerseyans, from north to south, urban and rural, men and women and among all classes and races. This includes fair access to healthy environments, good health care, governmental decision-making, economic opportunity and natural/cultural amenities. he idea of social justice is a high ideal, one on which our nation T was founded: All men are created equal. Today we tend to think of equity in relation to discrimination, but equity is not an issue I Society Environment limited to those who are disadvantaged. A community functions O best when all its members are included in the economic or social U structure. We all share in the economic, political and social costs of Economy inequity through such manifestations as homelessness and crime. Inequity is also evident in New Jersey's unequal infant mortality rates. Inequity means that those of us who are female or from minority backgrounds earn lower wages. It also means that noisy and polluting facilities are more likely to be located in poor and minority neighborhoods. What we know U Little change in equal pay...............................................................................................................................page 16 I Legislators increasingly reflect population .....................................................................................................page 17 O Disparities in infant mortality show little change .........................................................................................page 18 What we don't know • Data are limited for ethnic groups outside of the overly simplified "black-white" breakdown. New Jersey is much more diverse than this and measuring equity is more complex than traditional racial comparisons show. • We do not have recent or historical information on inequality in education, access to health care and responsiveness of government. • We do not know the fairness or full effect of our actions today on the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 15 INDICATOR Equal Pay Equal Pay U Median hourly wages by gender and race: Little change 20 s White Men (in constant 1995 dollars) s All Women Average hourly wages 15 s Blacks s Latinos 10 5 0 1980 1990 1995 Importance build a unified, cohesive future Environmental We have worked hard to rid our society together. Economic power often translates into of many forms of discrimination. political power and can mean greater Economic environmental protections for some at Unfortunately, some discrimination is A free market economy, when working the expense of others. difficult to identify and hard to prove. well, should provide the same compen- Not giving equal pay for equal work is sation for the same work. Fairly reward- Social one of the ways in which our society ing people for hard work and initiative Unequal wages divide the state's citi- can subtly put women and minorities at is the drive behind the innovative and zens. Under this situation, any sense of a disadvantage. Between 1980 and 1995, entrepreneurial spirit that has made our unity is difficult to achieve and the women made significant gains in wages. economy and our country great. It is development of a cohesive statewide However, wages for blacks and Latinos this spirit that creates the desire to work community is hindered. Divisions in have remained stagnant relative to their and participate productively in the society hamper our ability to act coop- white male counterparts. Not only are economy for the betterment of all. If a eratively to solve some of our most these differences unfair, they divide us rising tide does not move all boats, pressing problems. and reduce our ability to work together there will be fewer people working to as a society to solve our problems and raise it. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Unequal pay builds a vicious circle, Data for more minority groups, more consistently collected, is where those of us with less income necessary. Current data do a poor job accounting for the differences may also receive less education and in work within a particular job classification. fewer opportunities and, as a result, are likely to earn lower pay. SOURCE: NJ CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY & EDUCATION 16 INDICATOR Legislators' Reflection of Population Legislators I Percent of women, blacks and Latinos serving in the 120-member State Legislature: Increasing 20 Percent of State Legislature 15 10 5 0 * 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 s Women s Blacks s Latino *Latino data available beginning 1985 Importance legislators also remains smaller than our Environmental Representation is one of our most basic Latino population. One group has made Many environmental decisions — such rights, and one of our strongest tools for significant progress in the past two as where to locate undesirable waste shaping the future. While an individual decades: the proportion of African facilities — are made by government. of any race or gender may serve well the American state legislators today nearly Environmental inequities can result interest of others, it is both fair and corresponds to size of our black when minorities and those who live in healthy for our democracy when our population. poor areas do not have equal represen- elected officials reflect the makeup of tation and so receive more than their the population they serve. The number Economic fair share of undesirable facilities. Although our economy is based on free of female state legislators in New Jersey market principles, the government plays Social has grown significantly but still remains a role in correcting market failures that A legislature consisting of the full mosa- extremely low — fewer than 17 percent may wrongly discriminate against ic of cultures and ideas can better of our state legislators are female, earn- minorities. debate the full array of social biases and ing New Jersey 39th place in national standings. The number of Latino state social problems than can a legislature primarily consisting of one group. Knowledge gaps Things to think about There are many other positions in • Most of the minority members of the State Legislature are in the Assembly. The the State that could also be 40-member Senate continues to be composed overwhelmingly of white males. examined to determine how rep- Because Assembly members traditionally move to the Senate, this disparity may resentative public officials are of lessen in the future. the population. However, there is no consistent analysis of these • In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Americans fought successfully to remove "Jim positions. Positions such as Crow" laws that restricted the right of some citizens to vote and be represented. those on local school and plan- Despite this progress, we have moved only somewhat closer to representation ning boards can be particularly that reflects our population. important for building a fairer • Confidence in government increases when people see "one of their own" in future. elected office. SOURCES: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS, NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, RUTGERS CENTER FOR THE AMERICAN WOMAN AND POLITICS AND NEW JERSEY FUTURE 17 INDICATOR Disparities in Infant Mortality Infant Mortality O Disparities in infant mortality (deaths per 1,000 births) for the total population and the black population in New Jersey: Little change 20 Deaths per 1,000 births 15 10 5 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 s Blacks s All New Jerseyans Importance Economic infant mortality rates. Families Infant mortality is commonly used Our ability to provide for our chil- who live in poorer areas are often as a surrogate for the overall social dren is governed, in part, by our exposed to more adverse environ- development of a society. In New access to economic opportunities. mental conditions, ranging from Jersey, the odds of survival for a Infant mortality can be used as a second-hand smoke to toxins, baby depend, in part, on the baby's proxy for other issues that are including conditions that can com- color. Overall, infant mortality harder to measure, such as a lack plicate pregnancies. rates are falling in our state, but of opportunities for jobs, lack of the gap between the rate for blacks upward mobility and education, Social reduced access to general health The disparity in such a basic issue and the state average shows little care services and even a sense of as the chance of our children sur- change. Among black infants, frustration among those of us who viving is a strong indicator that we mortality rates are generally about receive fewer benefits of the state's are a divided society. A divided twice as high as the state average; economy. society will always have more diffi- the same is true nationally. culty acting to solve its problems Environmental than one that is unified. Impoverished areas have higher Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Infant mortality depends in large part on the education of the parents and the amount We do not have historic of pre-natal care the infant receives. and consistent data for races other than black and • Despite its wealth, the United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the white. Our state is more industrialized world. diverse than a simple black-white comparison • After decades of progress in addressing the inequities among ethnic and social groups, can illustrate. many basic disparities remain. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES 18 Strong Community, Culture & Recreation GOAL: Create or enhance within New Jersey communities a positive sense of local identity and individual belonging, which promotes respect among neighbors, increases everyone's feelings of safety and security and provides abundant cultural and recreational opportunities. eeling good about where you live, feeling a connection to your F neighbors and local institutions while surrounded by places to play and learn is an ideal that many people seek. New Jersey offers a } Society Environment vast array of communities and neighborhoods — cities, small towns, P old and new suburbs, rural lands — and an equally vast array of { recreation and cultural options, from cranberry festivals to opera, from bicycle races to ethnic celebrations. Our community bond is Economy weakened when we don't participate in community events, if we fear to walk some streets and when we can't or don't visit our cultural and recreational places. What we know P Newspaper circulation decreasing ................................................................................................................page 20 { Crime rate decreasing ...................................................................................................................................page 21 } Open space available for public recreation increasing ................................................................................page 22 What we don't know • How much New Jerseyans give back to their communities in the form of volunteer work with schools, Little League, community organizations and clubs. • How much opportunity New Jerseyans have to enjoy the state's cultural amenities, such as local fairs, theaters, sporting events and museums. • The state of our civil society and how well we will be able to work together as a society to solve our collective prob- lems. 19 INDICATOR Newspaper Circulation P Newspaper Circulation The per capita circulation of New Jersey newspapers: Decreasing 0.25 in circulation, per capita Newspapers 0.20 0.15 1980 1985 1990 1995 Economic duction facilities will be located. Importance Over the morning paper, we get a Newspapers tie the environmental Without knowing the actions and glimpse of demographic shifts that problems that we feel locally to reactions of our neighbors and call for new products or job reloca- those happening nationally and leaders, we can do little to change tions. While reading on the bus, globally, so that we can solve them them. Armed with knowledge, we find out about upcoming regu- together. These issues are covered however, we have the ability to lations that may change the way in greater depth in newspapers remake our state to suit our goals. our families save, or our businesses than is possible in other media. Newspapers are particularly impor- operate. Behind the Sunday paper, tant to New Jerseyans because our we learn what our colleagues Social major television and radio broad- and competitors are working on. Without newspaper exposure and casts come from New York and The daily newspaper is an impor- in-depth coverage of social issues, Philadelphia; they leave discussion tant information tool for economic we would live in the dark. We of our values to our state newspa- success. would not know where crimes are pers. The number of people reading committed, where politicians are New Jersey newspapers is an indi- Environmental meeting, where schools are cator of how engaged we are with Newspapers are the only medium excelling or failing to meet their New Jersey issues. that covers local environmental potential. Newspapers do not offer decisions, especially regarding land us a fully two-way dialog, but they use and where waste or energy pro- do help foster responsibility and build communities. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • The existence of newspapers does not guarantee that we will learn all This indicator does not that we need. We also depend on many kinds of personal experiences account for the quality of the that are not reflected in an indicator about newspaper readership. news stories reported, only their quantity. It also does not • Newspapers report on the events of the moment, but they do not account for the growth of always cover incremental change — even though crucial issues, such as electronic news media includ- population growth and accumulation of pollutants, can sneak up on us ing the Internet. We have yet slowly. to fully account for the impact of New York and Philadelphia newspapers on New Jersey issues and readers. SOURCE: STANDARD RATE AND DATA SERVICE (SRDS) 20 INDICATOR Crime Rate Crime Rate { Number of reported violent and non-violent crimes per 1,000 people in New Jersey: Decreasing 60 50 Crimes per 1,000 people 40 30 20 10 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 s Non-violent s Violent contribute to high crime rates — and people from undertaking this kind of Importance crime chases people away from inner renovation. Money and resources spent What could be a more striking measure city areas that could otherwise be home fighting crime divert resources away of a healthy society than the rate at to productive businesses and families. It from protecting our environment. which its citizens commit crimes is a vicious circle that fights back against each other? Crime's impact does against the people who try to break it. Social not stop with stolen property, lost Meanwhile, people are forced to spend Crime is an indicator of other deep health or fear — it encompasses the their money on alarm systems, law social and economic problems. It can host of social issues that feed it, such as enforcement and prisons. reflect lack of opportunities, inadequate unemployment and poverty. education and feelings of hopelessness. Fortunately, our crime rate has been Environmental It is a strong, leading indicator of falling. It is now at its lowest level since When people abandon city centers they economic stagnation, a shortage of well- the mid-1970s. cause new sprawl in suburban and rural trained workers and other problems that areas instead. "In fill" or redevelopment may await us in the future. Economic of existing cities would spare environ- Economic stagnation and desperation mental resources, but crime discourages Things to think about Knowledge gaps • New Jersey crime rates vary greatly Data from the Uniform Crime Statistics capture only crimes that between communities. have been reported. If minor crimes become commonplace, or if people are scared or embarrassed to report crimes such as rape, • Crime, or a perceived lack of safety, is then the reported crime rate could be misleading. It would be among the reasons cited by New desirable to have information, perhaps survey data, on the Jerseyans for not wanting to live or percent of crimes that are reported. do business in inner city areas. SOURCE: NJ DIVISION OF STATE POLICE 21 Open Space INDICATOR Open Space Available for Public Recreation } Acres of open space preserved for public recreation: Increasing 1,000,000 800,000 Acres 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 1996 1997 Importance Economic Natural areas also absorb some of the Both children and adults need places to New Jersey's second largest industry is pollution from our cars and factories congregate and play. These simple pleas- tourism — a measure, in part, of the and filter our water. Parks are a triple ures are fundamental to quality of life state's natural charm and attraction. benefit. in New Jersey. As of 1996, a total of Other industries understand the impor- 816,000 acres had been preserved for tance of open space to the quality of life Social enjoyed by their employees and consid- Green spaces are part of self-perception. public recreation. Unfortunately, the er this when deciding where to locate or When we think of our nicest neighbor- remaining unpreserved open space is expand. One Colorado study found the hoods, we see tree-lined streets, baseball being rapidly consumed by develop- market value of properties adjacent to diamonds and benches in the grass. ment. We benefit from public land in greenways was 32 percent higher than When we think of our nicest vacations, many ways: homes and businesses near those only half a mile away. we see ocean beaches, the Appalachian parks are worth more than those in Mountains, the Pine Barrens and the out- other places; we strengthen our commu- nities when we socialize in these places; Environmental doors. We can gather in green spaces and We think of parks and open spaces as socialize. They are part of who we are. plants and animals have places to thrive; and green spaces clean our air places to play and relax. But to the and water. state's flora and fauna they are home. This double utility of parks allows us to have fun while also preserving species. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Despite the fact that the amount of open space available for public We still do not have consistent data on the use has increased, the view from the road — seemingly endless strip total amount of open space lost annually in malls and subdivisions — continues to show that we are losing our New Jersey. The data we have do not tell forests and farms at an alarming rate. us whether our open lands have been logged recently, whether they suffer from • Most of the acres preserved since 1970 have been acquired through pollution or other degradation, or about the the Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres program. general quality of nature there. These data also do not say how accessible these places are to our people, especially those without cars. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 22 Quality Education GOAL: A quality, lifelong education equally accessible to all New Jerseyans, whereby individuals learn to be critical thinkers and engaged citizens with an understanding of and respect for the systems that support civilization (social, economic and environmental); and which provides students the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and personal fulfillment. ew Jersey spends more money per pupil in elementary and N secondary school education than any other state except Alaska. Our students score among the nation's top in standardized testing; w Society Environment we are at the national forefront of new educational initiatives, such as charter schools. Yet there has been little change in the number of e students meeting minimum high school proficiency standards and qr we have spent years arguing in the courts about the disparities that Economy exist between our rich and poor districts. Such issues aren't critical only to those with children. An educated citizenry is essential to a productive economy and a fully functional society. New Jersey produces fewer higher education degrees relative to population size than many other states. What we know q Graduation rates increasing .........................................................................................................................page 24 w Little change in student/teacher ratio..........................................................................................................page 25 e Little change in number of students meeting minimum high school proficiency ....................................page 26 r Access to higher education shows little recent change ...............................................................................page 27 What we don't know • We can test students on reading, writing and arithmetic. We do not have information on characteristics that are harder to test for including the ability to work with others, to think in innovative ways and whether students care about being productive members of society. • We have no consistently available measures on disparities in the education received by children from rich and poor families, by genders, or from different ethnic groups. • To sustain our quality of life, it is imperative that our children are taught to understand the basic systems that support us: the economy, environment, government and society. We currently have no way to measure how well our children are taught what they need to know to manage these systems. • There is currently no comprehensive means of tracking lifelong education. Given the quickening pace of economic change as we enter the next century, it appears that continuing education long past traditional graduations will become more important. 23 INDICATOR Graduation Rates q Graduation Rates Percentage of New Jersey's students who graduate within four years of entering high school: Increasing Percent graduating 90 85 80 75 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Importance development to take place, we Social Education correlates strongly with need capable, educated workers Education is central to developing future economic and social well- who are also rounded people. future leaders and effective partici- being for everyone. It is also a criti- pants in our state's civil society. cal way that we transmit our val- Environmental People who drop out of school Environmental education helps us are not eligible for many important ues, culture and shared experience. make scientifically informed deci- kinds of work or future opportuni- A high school diploma is a pass- sions, rather than choices based on ties, and they are in less of a port to the benefits of American emotion. Such learning is the position to lead us toward the kind society. foundation of decisions in the of future we want. This is especially Economic future that will conserve our worrisome in urban areas with Without a degree, young people resources and allow us to live well. the highest dropout rates, because face a difficult battle in today's Tomorrow's graduates will soon this is where strong leadership marketplace for workers and lack face the task of reducing the bur- and strong communities are most opportunities for advancement den that we put on nature today. needed. tomorrow. Education makes people employable and competitive. It also makes them rich in knowledge and experience. For economic Things to think about Knowledge gaps • High school graduates have a Graduation rates do not tell us how good an significantly lower unemployment rate education each student received. Furthermore, than non-graduates. graduation rates do not tell us whether these young people are responsible citizens, are healthy, or have a fundamental understanding of important issues and of how the world works. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 24 INDICATOR Student/Teacher Ratio Student/Teacher Ratio w Average number of students per full-time classroom teacher at NJ public schools: Little change 15 Student-to-Teacher Ratio 14 13 12 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Importance schools. An investment in well- Social One of the most effective forms of educated people means far more to In addition to teaching skills and education is student-teacher inter- our economy than the purchase of critical thinking, an education action. The student-to-teacher any machine, or the building of teaches children how to behave in ratio for New Jersey schools has any infrastructure. social settings. Self discipline, recently hovered around 14 stu- respect for others and other key dents per teacher, as compared Environmental social values can be instilled Education is often necessary to through classroom experience. with the national average of 17. illuminate the connections Adequate attention from teachers Our state may be stronger in the between our actions and the con- is a critical component of this future as a result. sequences for the environment learning experience. Economic and our society in general. Businesses invest in machinery, "Thinking skills" are crucial to fos- advertising and the materials that tering environmental awareness. they use. Through their taxes, they Teachers are the people who build invest indirectly in an even more such kinds of thinking. A quality critical resource: educated employ- education instills values of envi- ees, the products of our public ronmental stewardship. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • The work of teachers can only reach This indicator does not take into account the quality its highest potential when it is of teaching, nor teacher qualifications. It also does complemented with the teaching not illuminate the curricula that are taught to our done by parents. children. This indicator does not adequately account for different types of teachers, such as special education and counseling, that are more prevalent in some schools. SOURCES: NJ DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 25 INDICATOR Standardized Test Scores e Standardized Test Scores Percent of students meeting the minimum high school proficiency mandated by the state: Little change 100 Percent meeting minimum standards 95 90 85 80 1993 1994 1995 1996 s Average s Writing s Reading s Math Importance Economic Social Imagine trying to get through a Employers depend on capable Those of us who do not learn to day — or a career — without workers who know their basic read and write well at an early age knowing how to read well. skills, including reading, writing are at a disadvantage through the Imagine trying to buy a house and and math. If our school system rest of our lives and this disadvan- secure a mortgage without know- does not instill such proficiency tage stands at the root of a cycle of ing basic mathematics. A steady into us, then industry will suffer other social disadvantages. number of us in New Jersey face and incomes will decline. Problems such as unequal life these difficulties. As with many expectancies, unequal wages and issues in our state, a large but Environmental high unemployment all stem in diminishing gap exists in this indi- Those of us who benefit from an part from unequal opportunities for cator among those of us from dif- effective high school education are education. Unequal test results ferent races. better able to create opportunities serve as a good proxy for these to protect and enhance our envi- other important issues. ronment. Knowledge gaps Things to think about No one test has been given con- Percent Passing • Public school tests cover basic skills sistently to public school stu- the 1997 High School — but not such crucial attributes as dents in our state and so com- Proficiency Test the ability to work with others, the parisons of results are not pos- wisdom to make responsible choices 100 sible. Also, the data represented for our future and our environment, 80 here will be outdated soon or the desire to work hard. 60 because the state is getting 40 • Some studies have shown that the ready to implement testing of a 20 value of education, literacy and other new set of "Core Curriculum 0 attributes measured by test scores are Content Standards." Once the s Neediest (Abbot) s Other school more important to our economy than data from the new standards districts districts are collected regularly, they will the value of the machines, assembly lines and financial capital used by our provide some of the information businesses. we need to make consistent comparisons. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 26 INDICATOR Access to Higher Education Higher Education r 5,000 Undergraduate enrollment in New Jersey colleges and universities: Little recent change Enrollment per 100,000 population 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 Importance Economic who make advances in science, College education increases our New Jerseyans who have been to economics, management and other earnings, expands our horizons, college earn more than those of us areas with the help of a college generates more opportunities and who have not. They also have a education. College also expands supplies our industries and govern- wider range of job opportunities our horizons and helps us to see ments with more capable workers. and more job security. Some of our issues and connections, such as Some of us take it for granted that most dynamic industries, such as those between economic, social we and our children will go to a high technology and pharmaceuti- and environmental issues. college or university; but others see cals, depend very heavily on work- this opportunity as beyond reach. ers who have a college education — Social and even advanced degrees. They College can provide thinking and This indicator measures our state's choose to locate in places where evaluation skills that can help us capacity to accept new students for the market offers such workers. make the best decisions for our higher education. College enroll- communities and ourselves. ment per capita has risen in New Jersey since 1970, but fell some- Environmental To live and work effectively we Some of the solutions to our envi- need to be as knowledgeable as what during the 1990s. ronmental problems will come possible about our economy, from knowledgeable innovators society and environment. NJ Colleges Enrollment by Race 90 Things to think about Knowledge gaps • New Jersey has some of the preeminent Enrollment does not tell us 80 Percent of total enrollment universities in the world. Two of them, how many opportunities 70 Rutgers and Princeton, predate the state exist for New Jerseyans to 60 of New Jersey. go to college. Opportunities are created through access 50 • Many New Jersey students go to college to a good grade school edu- 40 outside New Jersey. cation and through 30 resources given to institu- • There is a shortage of lawyers, doctors 20 tions of higher education. and other highly educated people Knowing how many of us 10 choosing to work in the public sector enroll in college does not tell 0 for lower salaries. This is due in part to 1984 1997 us about the quality of the the high cost of their education. education that we receive. s White s Black s Hispanic s Asian SOURCE: NJ COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION 27 Good Government GOAL: A statewide system of governing that is efficient, effective, trustworthy and responsive to citizens and their needs; and which actively promotes good citizenship and effective participation in decision-making. ew Jerseyans played a prominent role in shaping the initial N documents and direction of American democracy. Our state continues to shape democracy's direction today, with landmark laws t y Society Environment regarding sexual offenders, banning assault weapons and better land-use planning. Even so, our research shows that most New Jerseyans cannot name either of our two U.S. senators, and half of Economy us do not know which party controls the legislature. If our knowledge of key public affairs and issues is as weak, then our tradition of democracy could be imperiled. Indeed, our state's voter turnout is declining. With today's pace of rapid change and increasingly complex issues, we need more than ever a set of representatives we can work with and trust. Our lack of knowledge about and participation in politics works against our need for an efficient, effective, trustworthy and responsive government. What we know t Knowledge of government increasing .........................................................................................................page 29 y Voter turnout decreasing ..............................................................................................................................page 30 What we don't know • Although we do know that we have the highest density of local governments in the nation with 566 municipalities, 618 school districts, 21 counties and numerous local authorities, we do not have good measures of the efficiency and cost effectiveness of state and local government. • To be valuable, public participation in government must be informed and effective. We have no way to measure how good we are as citizens in getting our voices heard in government. • The level of government action (local, state, federal) should meet the level of the problem (local, regional, national). We have no way to measure the right balance between governmental activity at the local, state and federal level. 28 INDICATOR Knowledge of Government Knowledge of Government t Percent of survey respondents who knew which party was in control of the State Legislature: Increasing 80 70 Percent of New Jerseyans 60 who knew 50 40 30 20 10 0 1971 1975 1977 1980 1991 1998 Importance economy, as demonstrated by daily for our environment and our- While the numbers have slightly news coverage of what government selves, but only if we are knowl- increased, in 1998 only half of us is doing to regulate industries and edgeable about the issues and knew which party controlled the spur economic health. However, if a familiar with our representatives. State Legislature, a significant drop majority of citizens lack the knowl- from 62 percent in 1975. Such edge to express themselves within Social our government, we can not be cer- Our social structure is based knowledge is an indicator of the tain that government actions with- upon an open and democratic vibrancy and health of our democra- in the economy will serve our best dialogue between citizens and cy. When we vote, our opinions on interests. leaders. Those of us who are all of the pressing issues of the state unaware of the political party in are boiled down to choosing one party or another. How can we hold Environmental power will find it difficult to take The stakes are high when our gov- part in democratic dialogue and government responsible, and have a ernment makes laws on how much hold government accountable for basis for our voting decisions, if we pollution can be released, on where its actions. Without this kind of do not even know who is in power? development can take place, on interaction we are hindered as a Economic energy policy and on other envi- society in our ability to respond Our government has a profound ronmental issues. We can make to New Jersey's many pressing impact on the functioning of our these decisions reflect what's best problems. Do you know the names of the Things to think about Knowledge gaps US Senators from NJ? • U.S. Senators are among the The ability to name the 50 most visible and media- governing party or Percent of New Jerseyans recognized of our elected Senators only represents 40 leaders. one form of citizen who knew 30 engagement. Important 20 • In a two-party system such measures we do not have as ours, decisions on all include knowledge of 10 public issues are boiled other state and local gov- 0 down generally to voting for ernment leaders, and of 1972 1978 1980 1988 1998 a candidate representing one current public issues. party or the other. These survey data are not collected regularly. SOURCE: STAR-LEDGER/EAGLETON POLLS 29 INDICATOR Voter Turnout y Voter Turnout Percent of registered voters casting ballots in statewide general elections: Decreasing Percent of registered voters voting 100 100 90 90 80 80 70 70 60 60 50 50 40 40 30 30 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 s National presidential elections s State legislative elections Importance record low turnout of just 38 per- come. By voting, we can act to Voting is the fundamental way we cent of registered voters in 1995. ensure that decisions about the exercise our right to self-governance. environment are in the best interest Voter turnout is the basic measure of Economic of all New Jerseyans, instead of a Voting is about economics. It puts vocal or wealthy minority. how many of us are exercising this into government the decision-mak- right. Through voting, we can express our desires and speak our ers who will promote job growth, Social fight for our social values and com- When we vote, we exercise our priorities for less poverty, more jobs, mit themselves to ensuring that our most fundamental right as citizens a cleaner environment, less crime economy is the foundation of our in a democracy. A decline in voting and better education. When we social and environmental health. may signal an ominous change in vote, we fulfill an opportunity that how invested we are as citizens of a few people have had throughout Environmental common state or country, and how history, and for which people in this Not voting leaves decisions about much of ourselves we are willing to country and others have fought and our water, air, parks, forests, wet- give to build a common future. By died. Turnout for national (and lands, open spaces and hazardous voting, we participate in a public gubernatorial) elections has declined materials in the hands of other peo- dialogue about New Jersey that only slightly. However, turnout for ple, often those who have a vested brings us together and makes us a legislative/ local elections has or financial interest in the out- more unified society. declined dramatically, reaching a Things to think about Knowledge gaps • In countries where voting has only recently This indicator only measures the percent of become a privilege, voter turnouts are very high: registered voters. It does not take into account 92 percent in Uzbekistan and 91 percent in people who are eligible but not registered. It Kazakstan, for example. does not take into account the significance of recent increases in the number of voters due • Voter turnout varies substantially depending on to automatic voter registration initiatives, such what offices are being elected. In elections where as the program run by the Division of Motor candidates are on TV and widely known, such as Vehicles. We interact with our government in for governor or president, voter turnout has been many other ways besides voting, including fair to good. However in elections for local office, campaign contributions, letters to newspapers the elections which can at times affect us the most, and through direct conversations. In the future, voter turnout is dismal — 1995 saw the lowest it would be worthwhile to create measures of voter turnout in recent history. these interactions as well. SOURCES: NJ DEPARTMENT OF STATE 30 Decent Housing GOAL: A variety of desirable housing options for all New Jerseyans, at every income level. andwiched between two major cities in neighboring states, New S Jersey has long provided an opportunity for home ownership not available to city dwellers. As a result we have become a state where o Society Environment the majority of people live in suburbs. Sprawling ever outward, we i are losing our diversity of housing types. New housing options in u New Jersey are largely limited to "cookie cutter" subdivisions. There Economy is good news: The number of us who can afford to rent is increasing. Median incomes have risen more than housing prices in recent years, suggesting that some of us who could not afford to buy homes in the past are now beginning to be able to do so. What we know u Increasing number of New Jerseyans can afford to rent .............................................................................page 32 i Median income increasing faster than housing prices ................................................................................page 33 o Little change in housing choice ...................................................................................................................page 34 What we don't know • We do not have consistent data to describe the quality and state of repair of these homes. • We do not have data that describe the neighborhoods these homes are located in; whether children who live in these homes have other children to play with nearby; whether these homes are located in safe neighborhoods; or whether these homes are located near amenities such as parks, shopping and entertainment. • These data do not adequately tell us how much financial difficulty New Jerseyans have in meeting their housing needs. 31 INDICATOR Rent Affordability u Rent Affordability Percent of New Jersey renters able to afford the fair market rent with 30 percent of their income: Increasing 80 70 Percent able to afford fair market rent 60 50 40 30 20 1989 1991 1994 1996 1997 1998 s 1-Bedroom s 2-Bedroom Importance Economic for us to feel connected to our envi- Housing is a fundamental need of Affordable housing is essential to ronment and take responsibility for all people. Families who struggle to the economic well-being of our its well-being. find affordable housing have to use citizens — and the economic their energy and resources for meet- success of the state. Businesses Social have difficulty maintaining a work- Housing is the backbone of a com- ing this basic need, rather than for force without adequate places for munity. If housing is too expensive other necessities like food and med- workers to live. Our economy is or of poor quality, it is harder for ical care, or discretionary spending dragged down when significant residents to become connected to including further education. At the numbers of us have little money to that community and develop a end of the 1980s, about half of us spend and invest due to the high sense of belonging. In many of our who rent were able to afford market cost of housing. poorer areas, little money is left rates using 30 percent of our over after the rent is paid, so few income. That percentage is slowly rising. Still, affordable rent eludes Environmental resources are available to pay for Housing is part of the human envi- quality education and social pro- many. ronment. Living in shabby or unaf- grams that can aid in breaking the fordable housing makes it difficult cycle of poverty. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • To be considered affordable, The definition of "fair market rent" has changed during the rent must be 30 percent or period in which data were collected; this definition should be less of income. standardized. We do not have data to ascertain whether some people might prefer different thresholds of affordability. Also, these data cover the entire state and so cover up the considerable regional variations in both incomes and rental prices. SOURCE: NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION 32 INDICATOR Home Prices vs. Income Home Prices vs.Income i The relationship between average per capita annual income for a four-person family and median home sale prices: Income increasing faster than home prices $35,000 $160,000 Average per capita personal income Average home sale price 155,000 30,000 150,000 25,000 145,000 20,000 140,000 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Importance in our homes as "equity." We also streets, near pristine environ- Home ownership helps build store our most valuable assets at ments and parks. Conversely, financial equity for New Jerseyans home — our safety, our families, those near waste dumps, polluted and establishes us as long-term our peace of mind. The availabili- rivers or environmentally dam- stakeholders in our communities. ty of desirable housing for aged sites are worth the least. It also builds pride in the places employees is a major considera- where we live and gives children tion for businesses in deciding Social where to locate. Homes give people a reason to and families a stable place to care. Homeowners are key stake- grow. The ratio between home price and income has narrowed Environmental holders who tend to take a long- How and where we build our term interest in community mat- since 1988. This suggests that homes may be the single most ters such as promoting education more of us are able to buy a important factor in how much we and fighting crime. Desirable home. impact our environment. homes help shape close commu- Economic Depending on where and how nities where children play safely, One of the biggest economic they are built, homes use and where parents can visit together goals of many New Jerseyans is to generate different amounts of in nearby parks and where hous- own a home. For most people, land, traffic, energy and pollu- ing values rise along with the their home will be their largest tion. The most valuable homes well-being of the community. investment. We store our savings are often those with tree-lined Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Although average income is rising, income inequality, or the gap The data do not tell us the locations of the between the rich and poor, appears to be widening in the state. homes involved. Therefore, we can not tell how We don't know if housing inequality is widening as well. safe the homes are, the quality of the school districts that serve them, the levels of racial • Homebuilding technology exists to significantly reduce segregation in the regions where they are environmental impacts such as energy use. Despite the fact that located, their environmental impact, or how this technology has proven to save homeowners substantial close the homes are to neighbors, key services amounts of money in the long term (the duration of a mortgage, and jobs. for instance), it has not been widely incorporated into the housing market. SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, US BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND NJ ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS 33 INDICATOR Housing Choice o Housing Choice The 10 fastest-growing residential areas in New Jersey according to their location in urban, suburban, or rural settings: Little change 12 10 Location of municipalities 8 6 4 2 0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 s Suburban s Rural s Urban Importance our neighbors and generally restruc- Environmental Although housing choice has tured our society. Sprawling suburbs put concrete improved slightly in recent years, the over large areas of land, destroy Economic habitat for wildlife and change our vast majority of our new housing We once lived near the factories and water systems. The auto driving continues to be built in suburbs. For farms where we worked, as well as that is required to move among the most part, this leaves homebuy- the shopping we needed. Today, suburbs is a major source of green- ers with little housing or community though, we commute long distances house gases and other air pollution. choice. Some years, urban places through congested traffic. This Our choice to live mostly in sub- don't even show up in this "top 10" requires expanded investments in urbs converts forests, wetlands and indicator. This historical trend has road construction, maintenance, many diverse ecosystems into fairly changed our state from one of close- cars and transit. The AAA estimates uniform housing developments. knit towns to one of dispersed it costs us 46 cents for every mile sprawling places without centers. It we drive. Rutgers University found Social has multiplied the number of cars that building in and around exist- Suburban developments, when that we drive, caused the paving of ing communities would save New done incorrectly, leave little oppor- large expanses of farmland and for- Jersey taxpayers $400 million annu- tunity for walking and talking with est, aided in the stagnation and ally by not having to service sprawl. neighbors and developing the com- decay of our cities, increased the pol- lution we emit and the energy we munity so many of us seek. use, changed our relationships with Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Many of us spend our vacations traveling to places that have quaint This indicator only analyzes towns or densely packed cities because we like the character and the 10 fastest-growing towns, lifestyle of such places. Yet we have moved New Jersey in the opposite and so is not a full description direction during the past 50 years. of land use and housing trends in New Jersey. It also • Many people now say that most parts of our state, and even our does not tell us about such country, have started to look the same. The trend toward the type of issues as how many people suburbs we have been building is a major source of this uniformity. live in each unit, or how many people live in apartments, condominiums or houses. SOURCES: RUTGERS TRANSPORTATION POLICY INSTITUTE 34 Healthy People GOAL: The highest opportunity for all New Jerseyans to be healthy, with equal access to high-quality health care and minimized exposure to health risks. ew Jersey could be called the health-knowledge capital of the N world. We are the home of some of world's largest healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. Health service is our largest private-sector Society ] Environment p industry, providing more than 300,000 jobs. Some of the foremost [ A health research in the world takes place here. At the same time, New Economy Jersey has more hazardous and contaminated (Super fund) sites qualifying for federal aid than any other state. What we know p Life expectancy increasing ...........................................................................................................................page 36 [ Mixed rate of occurrence for infectious diseases .........................................................................................page 37 ] Little change in the number of hospitalizations for asthma.......................................................................page 38 A Workplace fatalities decreasing ....................................................................................................................page 39 What we don't know • How large a role environmental contaminants play in the cause of illness. • How well our health care system is meeting the needs of New Jersey. • Whether people who are living longer continue to enjoy a high quality of life. 35 INDICATOR Life Expectancy p Life Expectancy Average number of years of life for New Jerseyans: Increasing 80 75 Life expectancy in years 70 65 60 55 50 1988-1990 1989-1991 1990-1992 1991-1993 1992-1994 1993-1995 s White s Minority Importance Economic nity to apply the environmental Life expectancy is an important As we live longer, we are able to lessons of our past. It also means measure in its own right and can prolong our contributions to socie- that each of us imposes a larger be a proxy measure for many other ty and lead more active lives. We cumulative burden on the planet, issues, such as healthcare, wealth, are able to earn more money. In increasing our individual responsi- opportunities and education. fact, senior citizens are among the bility for making environmentally Inequities in life expectancy may wealthiest of us. Our increased life sound decisions. signal inequities through this range span comes at a price, as the med- of other issues. In New Jersey, those ical care prolonging our lives is Social costly. Lost years of life are perhaps the of us from some races live longer largest social loss. When family than those from others — a remarkable inequity in its own Environmental and loved ones are gone, we lose Some of us remember the "dust the knowledge and culture they right and one that also indicates bowl" of the Great Depression; held. When those losses come dis- many other imbalances. Even with even more of us can mourn the proportionately to some races, they inequities, life expectancy has been loss of natural places and wild ani- help perpetuate other inequities increasing for everyone. mals known in our childhood. between races and weaken our Longer life spans offer the opportu- whole social fabric. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Up until the 1830s, even in Even though we live longer, some of us are uncomfortable, or wealthy industrial countries, in pain, during our later years. This indicator does not address people died on average by the the quality of life that we enjoy at older ages. age of 40. Today, we in New Jersey live some of the longest lives in the world. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES 36 INDICATOR Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases [ The rate of occurrence of newly reported cases of tuberculosis, AIDS and syphilis in New Jersey: Mixed 35 35 Cases per 100,000 population 30 30 25 25 20 20 15 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 s Tuberculosis s Syphilis s AIDS Importance Economic social, environmental and eco- The re-emergence of tuberculosis These illnesses are expensive in nomic indicators. In other places, has raised concerns about this dis- every way. They cost our health though, high illness rates and ease as a major threat to public care budgets directly. They also other problems build vicious cycles health. At the same time, much of lead to lost earnings and lowered that worsen a range of indicators, the infectious disease that we face productivity. They put a burden on from environment to health. in New Jersey is preventable. With our social and familial relation- better education about sex and ships, which are themselves build- Social ing blocks of our economy. The illness rates of this indicator other safety and hygiene measures, are also indicative of a number of and with access to basic health care for more of us, we can reduce Environmental other diseases and health-related Environmental and health indica- issues. The likelihood of getting the rate of sexually transmitted tors often move in tandem. any one of these illnesses is related disease and most other infectious Healthy people and successful soci- to education and socioeconomic disease. eties are part of positive, self-per- status. petuating cycles that improve most Things to think about Knowledge gaps • The most effective and inexpensive way to fight sexually transmitted We need data for other infectious diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and AIDS is not through diseases as well. It would also be useful treatment after exposure, but rather through prevention. to have measures that illuminate the differences in harm done by various • Chlamydia had been rare in our state, but has been rising lately. diseases, so as to distinguish, for example, between deadly diseases such • Gonorrhea was on the decline until the middle of the decade, but we as HIV and less deadly ones such as lost that downward momentum and rates have risen since. chlamydia. It is also necessary to have consistently collected data on the underlying social, economic and environmental conditions that promote the spread of all infectious disease. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES 37 INDICATOR Asthma ] Asthma Number of reported hospital admissions for asthma per 100,000 people: Little change 250 Number of admissions per 200 100,000 population 150 100 50 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Importance toms become severe, asthmatics tie public health to related issues Asthma is believed caused in part by are also sometimes unable to work, such as environmental quality, vehi- poor air quality. Moreover, asthma is and so part of their productivity is cle miles traveled, ridership of mass an indicator of environmental con- lost as well. transit and economic productivity. ditions that can cause a host of other serious respiratory ailments. It Environmental Social The amount of suffering from asth- The simple ability to go out and is a leading indicator of health care ma is a proxy measurement for local play, or walk around and be neigh- costs and reduced economic produc- air quality conditions, and those borly, is a pillar of our civil lives. tivity, as well as of human suffering. conditions can trigger other respira- But asthma keeps some of us inside, At a time when our state is becom- tory ailments. Air quality is an inter- especially on hot summer days ing wealthier, this indicator reminds esting indicator because it is caused when air quality is poor. us that economic growth can come by many environmental problems at an undesirable cost. such as automobile emissions, elec- Economic tricity generation, open space Elevated asthma rates increase destruction and pollution from health care costs. When their symp- manufacturing. These connections Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Children sometimes miss days of school because of asthma. We do not fully understand the triggers of asthma. To combat • Asthma threatens our children, the elderly and those of us who already the disease it is essential to have other respiratory illnesses more than other New Jerseyans. know the interactions between the host of potential causes. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES 38 INDICATOR Workplace Fatalities Workplace Fatalities A Job fatalities per 100,000 workers: Decreasing 5 Deaths per 100,000 workers 4 3 2 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Importance through occupational exposure. never heard of by most of us. We One measure of a successful econ- can also infer that a company that Economic does not care for its workers is not omy is its ability to care for its Occupational injuries destroy caring for the environment. workers. Since the beginning of careers and undercut family liveli- the industrial revolution we have hoods. They also raise the rates Social fought for and won significant that we pay for insurance, the cost The devastating social effects of rights for workers, including the of doing business and the cost we injuries have been dramatized suc- right to a safe working environ- pay for products and services. And cessfully in movies and novels. ment. As a result, we have seen the risk of injuries makes some The language of public policy and the rate of worker injuries and jobs undesirable to workers. economics does not capture the deaths drop significantly in the emotional loss and the harm to past 150 years. Accidents cannot Environmental families, communities and be eliminated entirely, but many Environmental contaminants are incomes that come when one of a current causes of occupational among the causes of occupational household's breadwinners is hurt injury and illness are avoidable. harm. The contaminants list is or killed. Lead is but one example of a con- long and includes many chemicals taminant that causes illness Total Workers with Things to think about Knowledge gaps Lead Exposure Lead poisonings and • In most types of work in New Jersey, it is safer to do the job than to 1,200 drive on our highways to that job. fatalities are only two of the various • Early in America's industrial revolution, child exploitation, 18-hour hazards that a work- 975 workdays, low pay and hazardous conditions were common. We er can be exposed to have come a long way. on the job. Better 750 indicators, which • Job-related injuries have changed as our economy has shifted from integrate worker 525 manufacturing to services, as evidenced by the increase in such health and safety sta- "white collar" disabilities as carpal tunnel syndrome. tistics, are needed. 300 • Although we have improved conditions for our workers, many of 1986 1989 1992 1995 the products we buy are imported from countries that have lower safety and environmental standards. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES 39 Efficient Transportation and Land Use GOAL: A choice of efficient, convenient, safe and affordable transportation and land use options, providing access to jobs, shopping, recreational centers, schools, airports and rail centers. ew Jersey is a state of transportation "firsts": the first stagecoach, N the first balloon flight, the first airport, first steam locomotive. But despite this promising "multi-modal" start, mobility in our state G Society Environment depends on cars and highways. The number of miles we drive in a DF year has risen steadily, as has the amount of time we spend sitting in S cars. The amount of land we pave for roads and subdivisions has Economy risen correspondingly, as has the congestion we endure. Our late 20th century pattern, to build new homes rather than renovate existing towns, perpetuates our car culture — when we do require services or recreation, most of us have little choice but to drive. The lack of choice in transportation and land use is likely to be an increasing problem as the population ages and becomes less able to live in auto-dependent locations. What we know S Need for road and bridge repairs increasing ................................................................................................page 41 D Vehicle miles traveled increasing .................................................................................................................page 42 F Workplace transportation options increasingly auto-dependent................................................................page 43 G Traffic fatalities decreasing ...........................................................................................................................page 44 What we don't know • The lifestyle and public health costs of our increased auto-dependency, including time spent in traffic instead of walking, biking or exercising. • The full environmental impacts of auto-dependency, in areas such as habitat loss, air and water quality and global warming. • How many of us have transportation options aside from driving for doing the things that we want to do, including eating, shopping and socializing. 40 INDICATOR Need for Road and Bridge Repairs Need for Repairs S The accumulated cost of repair work necessary to bring New Jersey's roads and bridges up to standard: Increasing Backlog of repairs (in billions of dollars) 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1984 1989 1998 Importance sary ingredient for any kind of eco- depends on the reasons for the Our daily lives take place within nomic success. Transportation is deficit and the actions New New Jersey's vast transportation especially important to our econo- Jerseyans take in response. When infrastructure. Without proper my, as New Jersey is an interna- the repair backlog exists because maintenance, our options and tional shipping and transportation new roads and bridges are being opportunities — economic and hub for cars, trucks, ships, air- built at the expense of the old, social — would deteriorate along planes and trains. Maintenance there are environmental conse- with our roads, bridges, railways costs are just part of the price of quences. Development will move and ports. The backlog of repairs doing business. However, as with to the new roads, create new on our existing bridges and roads all business expenses, we can be demand in new areas, trigger need stands at an all-time high. We have dragged down by the cost if our for more roads and speed the pace also strained our transportation transportation and land use sys- of paving over New Jersey's resources to build costly and ineffi- tems are not planned and do not remaining farms and forests. cient new infrastructure to accom- operate efficiently. New Jersey has modate sprawl-type development a special economic burden as a cor- Social ridor state with much "pass Some of our most pressing social in more rural areas, rather than for through" traffic that doesn't con- problems — urban decay and upkeep of infrastructure in older tribute to our economy. poverty — may be caused in part suburbs, towns and cities. by a declining infrastructure of Economic Environmental housing, streets and neighbor- An efficient and dependable trans- The environmental impact of a hoods in urban areas. port system is a basic and neces- deficit in infrastructure repair Things to think about Knowledge gaps • A significant portion of New Jersey's road-building dollars go toward building new This indicator does not roads, which often promote suburban sprawl, rather than toward repair of existing report on the backlog of infrastructure in cities and suburbs. repair work for non-road infrastructure, such as • The 1950s and 60s saw a number of major roads built in New Jersey. Some 40 years trains or sidewalks. It later, these roads and bridges need significant repair. does not take into account many of New • Transportation decision-making is fragmented among federal, state, local and Jersey's smaller roads. regional agencies. Central authority is weak. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 41 INDICATOR Vehicle MilesTraveled D Vehicle Miles Traveled Annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on New Jersey's road system per capita: Increasing 8,000 Annual miles traveled per capita 7,000 6,000 5,000 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Importance Economic fragment wildlife habitat making it Vehicle miles traveled and ridership The more we drive, the more we are unsuitable for some species. on public transit are both measures delayed. This irony is the essence of Approximately 25 percent of all of mobility — a highly prized asset congestion. As our VMT rise, our energy consumed in our state is at the end of the 20th century. Our transport efficiency declines in the used for transportation. As VMT jobs, schools, shopping and recre- resulting traffic jams. As our transit increase, our pollution increases. ation sites are frequently spread out ridership rises, however, congestion and far from our homes. Further, is reduced and energy efficiency is Social increased. This efficiency translates Traditional, centralized towns and much development — office, retail into a competitive economy as cities are more amenable to transit center, housing — is designed for workers, consumers and goods get use and harbor a greater sense of optimal auto access at the expense, where they need to go with mini- community identity than sprawl- often elimination, of other trans- mum time and cost. ing townships and corporate cam- portation options. Increasing the puses. Automobile dependence transit share of our travel would mean that we have planned our Environmental tends to isolate people in their Motor vehicles and roads may be cars, inhibiting interaction and "built environment" better, do not the largest source of air and water community coherence; while tran- need to travel as much and that we pollution in New Jersey. Roads also sit brings them together in sta- will have less traffic congestion and tions, towns and in larger vehicles. pollution. Annual Transit Trips per Capita Things to think about Knowledge gaps • In many new communities, it We need data about the locations of our 25 is impossible to get a candy jobs, homes, recreation and shopping dis- bar, gallon of milk or a tricts, so that they can be analyzed for 24 proximity to each other and to existing newspaper, or to go to school or church, without using a transportation services. Consistently col- 23 car. Many new subdivisions lected land use data, surprisingly, remain don't even have sidewalks. unavailable. It is by understanding the lay- 22 out of our daily activities that we can real- • Most of our existing rail lines ly address the issues of why and how are well patronized. For rider- much we have to travel. These data do 21 ship to increase significantly, not include the very important ridership of more capacity and new lines numerous privately operated mass-transit 20 will have to be added. 1980 1985 1990 1995 companies, especially bus lines. SOURCES: NJ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND NJ TRANSIT 42 INDICATOR Workplace Transportation Options WorkplaceTransportation F Cumulative number of transit-friendly and auto-dependent large office developments built since 1990: Auto-dependent developments increasing faster 50 Office developments 40 30 20 10 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 s Auto Dependant s Transit Friendly Importance greater than the average distance of ing lots surrounding it. The rainwater This indicator rates the largest new 288 miles per week. Automobile- that runs off these parking lots is office buildings according to the centered development means we called "non-point source" pollution, transportation options available to pay extra too, for pollution, acci- and has at least as large an impact as those who will work there. When a dents and construction of new pollution from sewers and factories major new office development is roads. If we wish, we can save by (point sources). We have done a good built, it re-shapes all of the areas avoiding such development — and job in New Jersey of cleaning up our that surround it. New roads, homes the side benefits will include point sources, but non-point sources and shopping often follow. If we improved energy efficiency, lower continue to grow as a problem, can come and go only by car, we taxes, more competitive businesses, degrading our waterways. clog surrounding roads, pollute the better air and more options for get- air and waste tens of thousands of ting around. Social Isolated, single-use developments hours every year. The location and design of office buildings count per- Environmental do not foster a sense of place or of Pollution and land consumption community. A lack of community, haps more than any other develop- from sprawling new development is in turn, can exacerbate such prob- ment decisions we make. perhaps the greatest environmental lems as high crime rates and lack of Economic threat we face. The auto travel political participation. Mixed office, The AAA estimates that it costs the required to reach scattered suburban retail and service developments, on average driver $6,893 in 1998 to office buildings pollutes our air. the other hand, help build diverse own one mid-sized (Taurus-type) When you look down on a typical communities of people who live car; even more if you commute suburban office building from the air, and work nearby. the building is dwarfed by the park- Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Isolated office buildings discourage the development of public transport The trends observed in the state's systems because no single fixed point can serve as a central station. largest developments might not reflect trends in different regions of the state, • The construction of large, isolated office buildings contributes to the where smaller office buildings prevail. decline of city centers. They also may not reflect the automobile dependence of people who • Not only do many of us have to drive to work, but also to the grocery work in smaller office buildings, or in store, to our friends' homes, to schools and in some cases, to every place other sectors of the economy. we go. SOURCE: RUTGERS TRANSPORTATION POLICY INSTITUTE 43 INDICATOR Traffic Fatalities G Traffic Fatalities Annual number of reported deaths from traffic accidents involving motorists or pedestrians: Decreasing 1,500 1,200 Number of deaths 900 600 300 0 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 s Total traffic-related fatalities s Pedestrian Importance Economic Environmental Traffic fatalities are avoidable. They New Jersey has some of the highest High pedestrian fatalities in urban are also partially a byproduct of auto insurance rates in the nation. areas may provide motivation for sprawling development and the This is due, in part, to the amount people to leave cities, which can long hours we spend driving. In of driving we do and the number contribute to suburban sprawl. the short term, however, we can of accidents that result. We pay reduce the number of accidents also for medical service, automo- Social with such devices as traffic calming bile repairs and lost productive In traffic fatalities, we lose mothers measures that slow speeds in activity. If this money went instead and fathers. We lose doctors and crowded or residential neighbor- to education or investment in capi- teachers, and so on. This is a hoods. tal assets for business growth, then remarkable social cost and one we would receive returns on those with repercussions that last for investments far into the future. decades when some of our most- Instead, we pay high financial and needed people are lost. emotional prices. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Car accidents took nearly as many American Young people have more car accidents than almost lives last year alone as the Vietnam War did any other age group, so traffic mishaps take an throughout a decade. especially high toll when measured in lost years of life — but the indicator does not measure lost years • In the United States, or any country that is and so this important distinction is not revealed. At free of war, traffic fatalities are the largest almost all ages, men are much more prone to car cause of violent death. accidents than are women and this discrepancy also does not show up in the indicator. • Safe driving can save more years of life than many medical procedures, including some cancer and heart disease treatments. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY 44 Natural and Ecological Integrity GOAL: Preserve and restore New Jersey's ecosystems and the full complement of species that share the state with us. ew states have as many types of habitat and ecosystems as New F Jersey: bears and bald eagles populate our mountains, crabs and egrets home in our salt marshes, dolphins frolic off our shore, wild J K Society Environment orchids bloom in our Pine Barrens. Unfortunately, we are losing H much of this natural heritage. Some work is addressing these losses L by preserving land, conserving wetlands and the birds and other Economy species that depend on them, and reducing pollution in rivers and coastal areas. Yet despite the efforts of many New Jerseyans, we face escalating threats to our biodiversity, primarily due to habitat loss. Reduced biodiversity has economic as well as environmental consequences — for example, a healthy and biologically diverse watershed cleanses water naturally, saving millions in water treatment. What we know H Fresh water wetland losses decreasing .........................................................................................................page 46 J Nesting water bird populations decreasing..................................................................................................page 47 K River health increasing .................................................................................................................................page 48 L Marine water quality increasing...................................................................................................................page 49 What we don't know • We do not have essential basic indicators of the health of New Jersey's ecosystems and the diversity of the plants and animals that live in them. This includes the amount of habitat left for each species. • We do not know the thresholds beyond which the loss of species and habitat lead to the unraveling of ecosystems in ways that also undercut the stability of all life on earth. • When species like birds and fish decline, we do not know how much of that loss is due to changes in the ecology of our own state and how much of it is due to ecological changes in other places where these animals spend part of the year, including South America and other parts of the United States. 45 INDICATOR Fresh Water Wetland H Fresh Water Wetland Losses The acres of fresh water wetlands lost to permitted development each year: Decreasing 300 Acres of wetland developed 250 200 150 100 50 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Importance approximately 300,000 acres of tory animal, plant and insect Wetlands, or bogs and marshes — wetlands remaining in our state. species. Many oceanic species rely including the Meadowlands around on wetlands for some portion of Giants Stadium — are a particularly Economic their lives. Wetlands are one of the Wetlands act as a natural filter for state's largest repositories of biolog- critical ecosystem. They filter water, our ground water supply, reducing ical capital. Wetlands are also protect us from floods and provide the need for expensive investments among the habitats most sensitive habitat for a wide range of species. in water purification. Wetlands also to disturbance. They are incubators supplying our mitigate floods by absorbing water sport and commercial fisheries. They are way stations for migrating and releasing it slowly, which Social reduces costs that we might other- Wetlands enhance our quality of birds. According to the most con- wise pay for insurance and clean life by contributing to our recre- servative estimates, we have lost up. As habitat for a rich variety of ational opportunities — hunting, more than 20 percent of our wet- wildlife, wetlands attract tourists fishing, bird watching — activities lands since 1900; and as much as and bird watchers to our growing dependent upon clean water and 50 percent since colonial times. "eco-tourism" industry. habitat. Birds and other species Fortunately, our annual loss of wet- that rely on wetlands for habitat lands has declined impressively in Environmental enhance our daily relationship with the last two years. We now permit Wetlands support a high density the natural environment. development of fewer than 100 and diversity of native and migra- wetland acres a year, from the Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Although our drinking water These data are based on permits to legally alter and fill-in fresh water has remained relatively wetlands. Many small wetland developments fall outside of the regula- clean, the amount of work tory process and are not reflected in the data. Some wetlands are filled necessary to make it clean illegally and are also not counted. Many developed wetlands are has increased over the years replaced with mitigated or man-made wetlands. Over time, mitigation as nature's services of may produce additional functioning wetlands; however mitigated wet- cleaning the water have lands are not included in this indicator. We do not know how many declined with the loss of acres of wetlands are needed to perform critical functions such as flood wetlands and other protection and water filtration; or to provide habitat; or exactly how our ecosystems. water and wildlife will be affected when we lose more wetlands. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 46 INDICATOR Nesting Water Bird Populations Nesting Water Bird J 6,000 Population of nesting colonies of water birds: Decreasing 5,000 Number of birds 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 1977 1978 1979 1983 1985 1989 1995 s Total s Black Crowned s Great Egret s Little Blue s Snowy Egret s Tri-Colored s Yellow Crowned Night Heron Heron Heron Night Heron Importance Economic decline tells us about many envi- Our populations of Great Blue Bird watching is the fastest-growing ronmental problems, from pollu- Herons, American Egrets and other outdoor sport in the United States. tion to habitat loss. As a result, water birds are declining. Water This indicator is important to watch they are a "plural indicator birds are at the top of the food not only for the direct contribution species." Declining populations of chain, and so their well-being can of bird watchers to our economy, indicator species can indicate an serve as an indicator of the general but because the habitat that water ecological unraveling which threat- health of the ecosystem on which birds prefer is also the habitat pre- ens our state's natural capital as they rely; in this case, our wetlands ferred by vacationers seeking refuge well as the clean air and water pro- and shore. If water birds are declin- from a busy world. If this habitat is vided to us "for free" by nature. ing, we can also infer the species lost, it will have other economic that they eat, such as fish, amphib- impacts, such as additional flood- Social ing, water supply degradation and Birds, like all of New Jersey's ians and insects are also in trouble. weakened fisheries. wildlife, are part of our heritage This decline is due in part to the and our memories. They are part of over-development of shoreline areas and wetlands. Environmental what it means to explore the Water birds react to many changes beaches of our state and to partici- in the environment, and so their pate in the tradition of experienc- ing nature. Things to think about: Knowledge gaps • Water birds like herons and egrets were once almost wiped out by the These data account for a small millinery trade, but made a great comeback once laws were put into place to number of species in a small protect them from hunting and trapping. Their current decline stems from section of New Jersey. We also habitat loss that may not be possible to reverse. need population data for many other species of birds and animals • Water birds nest in large colonies, and so need large undisturbed areas for for each of New Jersey's many nesting and breeding. habitats and ecosystems. Since water birds are migratory, data are necessary to account for what happens to them after they leave New Jersey. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 47 INDICATOR River Health K River Health/Dissolved Oxygen Number of testing stations (total of 66) reporting adequate dissolved oxygen 90 percent or more of the time: Increasing 66 55 Number of stations 52.4% 44 Moderately Stressed 33 12.2% Severely Stressed 35.4% 22 Not Stressed 11 0 Biological conditions in NJ rivers 1975-1979 1980-1984 1985-1989 1990-1994 Importance much of our drinking water. Our lives in freshwater. River, or ripari- Our river ecosystems survive only state has significant industries that an, habitat is also among the most if they have enough dissolved oxy- depend on healthy rivers for sensitive and the first to show gen. When large quantities of fer- tourism and for fishing. Some of damage from pollution and distur- tilizers and other pollution run off the ocean fish harvested by New bance. from our farms, cities and roads, Jersey businesses are spawned and then algae and bacteria grow quick- hatched in our rivers. Property val- Social ues are high adjacent to healthy Healthy rivers provide valuable ly in our rivers and use up the oxy- bodies of water. recreation to those who have gen. This process is known as access. They bring charm and pride "eutrophication." It kills many fish and other species and changes the Environmental to the communities they run Rivers are particularly important through. Sadly, the poorest and ecological balance of the rivers. ecosystems. They matter not only most neglected communities also Economic to a wide range of freshwater fish have the most polluted rivers. Our rivers are part of the state's and aquatic species, but also to water system from which we draw many birds and insects and to ocean fish that spend parts of their Things to think about Knowledge gaps • New Jersey's great cities, including Paterson, Newark, Camden, Jersey City This indicator does not tell and New Brunswick, were located intentionally on rivers. Each of these us everything about river distressed cities has a distressed river running through it. Many of the best quality. It covers only the revitalization efforts are focusing on riverfront restoration. amount of dissolved oxygen. In addition, small • Rivers are habitat to a large number of organisms on our endangered relatively insignificant species lists and eutrophication, or lack of oxygen, is one of the leading changes in the amount of reasons for those species to decline. oxygen can cause a station to be in "exceedance." • The pollution that causes eutrophication is usually not toxic pollution. It is necessary to have Ordinary nutrients are among the substances that feed the algae and consistently collected, and bacteria that use up the dissolved oxygen. This means that excessive better analyzed and quantities of otherwise harmless substances also constitute a kind of weighted, data on river pollution that harms our environment. health. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 48 INDICATOR Marine Water Quality Marine Water Quality L Percent of shellfish habitat safe for harvesting: Increasing 100 90 Percent 80 * 70 60 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 * NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DOES NOT HAVE DATA FOR 1991. Importance omy. We have a vibrant commer- water and the health of the marine Shellfish eat by filtering whatever cial fishing industry, of which ecosystem. Moreover, clean coastal is floating in the ocean. As a result, shellfish are part. The commercial waters reduce public health prob- our ability to eat shellfish — or our and sport fishing industries rely on lems when we eat fish — and need to declare them off limits — clean water just as much as the when we swim and play in this is an important indicator of water shellfish industry. Water quality, water. quality and ecosystem health. As and perhaps a fresh oyster or two, our water quality has improved, we are important to tourism which is Social the second largest industry in the Clean beaches and water provide have been able to open up more state. safe opportunities for recreation acres of shellfish for harvest. Since and tourism in our coastal commu- the time when the first shell fish- eries were closed, New Jersey has Environmental nities. Trips to the shore, and the Maintaining marine water quality opportunity to eat fresh seafood, had a strong record of improving and habitat is essential to protect- are timeless leisure activities for coastal waters. ing the diversity of life in the many of us. Maintaining them Economic ocean. As bottom dwellers and fil- means keeping an important part As a coastal state, marine resources ter feeders, shellfish are good indi- of our heritage. are important to New Jersey's econ- cator species for the quality of the Things to think about Knowledge gaps • New Jersey is one of only five states In general, our information concerning the health of that have been able to increase its marine ecosystems is very poor. We still know little about number of harvestible estuarine ocean ecosystems, and about our many effects on them. acres since 1990. Fish-kills, red tides, marine mammal strandings and unexplained shorebird deaths all offer clues to the • Suburban and urban runoff is one of stresses being inflicted on the marine ecosystem, but we the biggest remaining uncontrolled will need a great deal more scientific study before we pollution sources contributing to understand those ecosystems in a meaningful way. harvest limitations. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 49 Protected Natural Resources GOAL: Maintain New Jersey's natural resource base. ur state is rich in natural resources. The Pine Barrens supplied the O Revolution with timber and iron. Our farmland and the aquifers that fill our streams, rivers and lakes are among the richest in the Society Environment a d world. But our farmland has dropped, from 2 million acres in 1950 s : to fewer than 1 million acres. In recent times, we've begun to protect our dwindling natural resources with mixed results: we've Economy altered 50 percent of the state's colonial wetlands, yet have improved our protection of the state's coastline from pollution. There's much left to do. What we know : Energy consumption increasing...................................................................................................................page 51 a Farmland decreasing.....................................................................................................................................page 52 s Beach and bay closings decreasing...............................................................................................................page 53 d Preserved and developed land both increasing ...........................................................................................page 54 What we don't know • The economic value of the services provided to us, for free, by our natural resources, such as clean water, air and recreation. • The amount of forested and undeveloped land that is consumed in New Jersey each year. • The actual quality and quantity of our natural water supply. • The amount of energy we use, and that it is possible to make, from sustainable, renewable sources. • What natural resources we consume in New Jersey that are imported from other states and countries. 50 INDICATOR Energy Consumption Energy Consumption : 3.0 Annual energy consumption: Increasing Energy consumed (Quadrillion BTU) 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 Importance goods and services at every level. the result of some kind of energy Our lifestyle and economy are Energy shortages have the power production or consumption. There dependent on the use of large to plunge an economy into reces- is not yet a long-term solution for quantities of energy to run our sion. With so much of our energy radioactive waste from nuclear cars, appliances, factories and usage dependent on foreign oil power plants. homes. The vast majority of this sources, our economy is not as secure as it could be. Technologies Social energy production creates pollu- that use energy more efficiently New Jersey is a major recipient of tion, whether in the form of green- can cut our risks and expenses — and contributor to — air pollu- house gases, toxins or radioactive impressively — but most compa- tion. The pollution we emit angers waste. In fact, most air pollution nies, homes and government agen- our neighbors when it crosses into comes, directly or indirectly, from cies do not use them. their states and countries, just as the creating and consuming of pollution from upwind neighbors energy. Perhaps the most trouble- Environmental angers us. To voluntarily reduce some aspect of our energy depend- Power plants that burn coal, oil or the energy we consume will ence is that most of our energy natural gas emit greenhouse gases require cooperation among neigh- comes from burning fossil fuels like that contribute to global warming. bors who carpool, families who coal and oil that are finite and In addition, mining for these remember to turn off lights and non-renewable. sources of energy tears open the consumers who buy efficient appli- Economic earth and sometimes leads to oil ances and cars. Ending our energy Increases in energy prices translate spills in the ocean or accidents at dependence will require the efforts quickly into higher prices for power plants. Most air pollution is of our entire society. Energy Consumption per Person Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Approximately 25 percent of the energy we consume is We do not have 350,000 used for transportation. data on the per- cent of our energy 300,000 • New and renewable sources of energy, such as wind and that comes from solar power, offer impressive potential to pollute less while renewable, clean BTU 250,000 still living in whatever ways we choose — but to reap those or sustainable benefits we have to invest in developing new technology. sources. 200,000 • More efficient automobiles, refrigerators, light bulbs, 150,000 manufacturing processes and machines of many kinds can 1965 1975 1985 1995 cut our energy use and save money, without changing the ways that we live — but we have to choose to use these efficient technologies. SOURCE: US ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION 51 INDICATOR Farmland a Farmland Total acres of farmland in New Jersey: Decreasing 2.0 Millions of acres of farmland 1.5 1.0 0.5 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 Importance ically viable requires that farm sizes sition. Farmlands, when worked respon- New Jersey is called the Garden State become relatively large. New develop- sibly, filter pollutants from the water because its soil and climate make it one ment often changes the character of and air and even play a role in moderat- of the most productive farming areas in rural areas and threatens to drive ing the absorption of rains and prevent- the world. Our farms provide fresh local remaining farmers out of business. The ing floods. Eating fresh local produce is produce and beautiful vistas and loss of farmland to new residences fre- healthy and reduces the energy required recharge our groundwater. Because farm- quently heralds property tax increases. for long-haul transportation. land brings in more revenue than it costs As we compete nationally and interna- in local services, it helps keep property tionally to attract top workers and busi- Social nesses, we must prevail over competi- Attractive vistas and open spaces are taxes low. New Jersey's farmland is tors based in part on the quality of life associated with our state's farming tradi- diminishing. Far from yielding to forests that our surroundings offer. A state of tion. The Garden State is becoming less or parks, though, in many cases this for- strip malls stands at a disadvantage. and less of an apt description of New mer farmland has been paved and Jersey. Instead, sprawling and homoge- replaced by strip malls and tract housing. Environmental neous developments are driving the Economic Crops and farmland offer habitat to state's unique rural communities into Agriculture is the third largest industry birds, other wildlife and a host of extinction. Preserving our farmland pre- in New Jersey. To keep farming econom- insects and small creatures that perform serves our heritage. functions like pollination and decompo- Things to think about Knowledge gaps • As of 1997, only 5 percent of the state's farmland had been preserved from This indicator shows the amount development. The other 95 percent remains open to future development. of farmland, but not tract size or economic viability. We also have • Attractive alternatives are needed for landowners who often face financial no data on the percent of our pressure to sell their farmland to commercial developers. They should have local and total food production incentives to sell it instead to other farmers, the state or to preservation groups. that comes from unsustainable and fossil-fuel dependent meth- • The sprawl created by subdivisions in former farming areas contributes to traffic ods of farming. congestion, long drives and air pollution. • New Jersey voters in November 1998 passed a referendum to spend $3 billion to preserve half of the state's remaining open space. SOURCE: NJ AGRICULTURAL STATISTICAL SERVICE 52 INDICATOR Beach and Bay Closings Beach and Bay Closings s Number of times per year a New Jersey beach or bay has been closed to the public due to hazardous conditions: Decreasing 1,000 800 Beach and bay closings 600 400 200 0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Importance tial visitors and reduce the large such as those for red tides or fish Millions of people visit our beaches revenues that are otherwise gener- kills, may be indicative of major every year. The Jersey Shore is a ated by coastal tourism. They are ecological imbalances in the key element of quality of life in also related to losses in our shell- marine ecosystem. our state, and a major tourist draw fish and other fishing industries. that contributes significantly to the They tarnish the general reputation Social of our state, hurting our chances to Many families have gone to the state economy. Generally, beach attract new jobs and businesses. beach every summer for genera- closings are caused by pollution, tions. The beach provides recre- typically due to sewage, medical waste, industrial pollution and run- Environmental ation for people of all ages. Beach Beach closings represent serious closures ruin this pastime and limit off from streets and lawns. incidents of pollution. The condi- our options for summer outings. Economic tions that provoke a beach closing Trips to the shore are an important Beach closings are highly visible are hazardous not only to humans part of New Jersey's quality of life. events that can drive away poten- but also to many types of ocean plants and animals. Some closings, Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Through great efforts in controlling pollution, especially sewage, beach Pollution levels may be just and bay closings have been dramatically reduced. short of the level at which a closing is required for • New Jersey not only has fewer beach closings than other shoreline many days a year, but that states, but also achieves this with higher standards and more stringent would not show up in this monitoring than most. indicator. And our waters also contain pollutants • Most of us can still remember a time when we took it for granted that other than the ones that we could go to the beach and swim in the water without health we monitor and which worries. cause our beaches to be • People once believed incorrectly that the ocean was so vast that it closed. Ecosystems can be could absorb any amount of pollution. affected by lower levels of pollution and by factors • Our beaches continue to face new threats from off our shores, such as that are not threats to New York City's proposal to increase its use of garbage barges. human health. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 53 INDICATOR Preserved & Developed Land d Preserved and Developed Land Number of acres preserved or developed: Both increasing 2,000,000 Acres of Land 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 1982 1987 1992 1997 s Developed land (the 1997 number is based on a linear trend of the data) s Preserved land Importance compete internationally to attract land, on the other hand, offers a Once land has been built upon, it is businesses and jobs. Economic stud- refuge for people, cleans our air and very difficult to return it to its natu- ies have shown that property values water for free and provides habitat ral state. At the same time, the acres increase when in proximity to well- to a wealth of species. of land preserved from development maintained public open space. have also increased. This struggle to Higher property values translate Social into higher property taxes and How do you value a place where a preserve what is left has been municipalities prosper. The quality child has space to throw a ball or to described as the "open space race." of life that comes with proximity to fly a kite? One way is to look at the The way we develop our remaining open space is emerging as a major change that occurs in a neighbor- land, whether we practice "smart factor in the competition for new hood that has a new park. Crime growth" or continue the current businesses and jobs. fell in one Philadelphia precinct by sprawl trend, will impact every 90 percent after the police helped aspect of life in New Jersey, from air and water pollution to wildlife, eco- Environmental the neighborhood clean up vacant Land is our most precious natural lots and plant gardens. Parks not nomic prosperity, recreation, urban resource. New roads, parking lots, only give children a place to play renewal and taxes. houses and malls strain our ground but adults a place in which to Economic water supplies, the cleanliness of invest their pride. Open space, and the quality of life our air and our ability to escape it provides, is a critical asset as we from traffic and noise. Preserved Things to think about Knowledge gaps • New Jersey has received national attention for its land preservation This indicator does not tell us agenda — a politically viable effort to slow suburban sprawl. about the ecological richness and value of the land that is pre- • In the 1998 election, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly passed a served. We also cannot see referendum to spend $3 billion to preserve one million acres of the whether we have preserved a state's remaining open space. full cross-section of New Jersey's native habitats and • As our population grows and undeveloped land becomes more ecosystems. scarce, future generations may place a higher value on preserving open space than we do currently. Their options for preserving land will be fewer than ours, however, and the prices they will have to pay will be higher because less land will be available. SOURCES: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND 1992 NATIONAL RESOURCES INVENTORY 54 Minimal Pollution and Waste GOAL: Minimize the generation and accumulation of pollution and waste; maximize the use of efficient, clean and sustainable energy sources; and increase consumer choices for ecologically friendly products. he name "New Jersey" once connoted pollution in many T people's minds. We've made progress: New Jersey once had among the most polluted beaches in the country; we now have g Society Environment some of the cleanest. Our most innovative companies have proven fj h that pollution prevention is often inexpensive and can improve the efficiency of our economy. New Jersey still has more federally Economy designated "Super fund" waste sites than any other state. Although we have made substantial progress, our air quality remains bad enough that the federal government has limited New Jersey's ability to build new roads and launch other transportation projects. Pollution has driven investment away from our inner cities, and throughout the state has contributed to illness and rising health care costs. What we know f New Jersey's greenhouse gas releases backsliding ........................................................................................page 56 g Drinking water quality increasing................................................................................................................page 57 h Total solid waste production increasing ......................................................................................................page 58 j Air pollution decreasing ...............................................................................................................................page 59 What we don't know • The actual costs in health care, clean up and lost resources that we pay due to pollution. • Although we know how many pounds of hazardous chemicals are emitted every year, we do not know the actual health risk that they cause or whether that health risk is increasing or decreasing. • How much of the global warming problem is due to our activities and how much we need to change. • How much business and government could save in operating costs by reducing pollution and waste. 55 INDICATOR Greenhouse Gas Releases f Greenhouse Gas Releases Millions of tons of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere annually (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent weight): Backsliding 155 Greenhouse gases released 150 (in millions of tons) 145 140 135 130 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 Importance Economic attempt to adapt to new conditions. Global warming is considered by Unchecked climate change could This can lead to invasions of exotic many to be the greatest threat to impose serious burdens on our species that will displace native the stability of modern civiliza- economy. A rise in sea level that wildlife and become vectors for new tion. It is caused when gases inundates the Shore could cause diseases. Species extinction may released by human activities, billions of dollars in property dam- result and entire habitats could dis- including burning oil and coal, age. Changing rainfall patterns appear forever. The full conse- build up in the atmosphere and could cause major crop losses. New quences of such upheaval are trap the sun's heat — much the Jersey could become more vulnera- unknown. way the glass of a greenhouse ble to hurricanes, floods, new pests traps heat. Most climate scientists and diseases migrating north from Social warmer places. Addressing global It is only through cooperation, believe that as a result of this warming before the full effects are from the local to the international warming of the earth, sea levels felt presents economic challenges level, that we can address this are going to rise; weather patterns and opportunities. problem. We in New Jersey and the will shift; hurricanes, tropical United States are the largest emit- pests and diseases will travel far- ther north; and differing rainfalls Environmental ters of greenhouse gases in the If main stream predictions are cor- world. Other countries have begun will alter crop patterns. We in rect, global warming could trigger a to express significant anger toward New Jersey are active participants wave of massive environmental our country because our emissions in changing the climate of our transformations, causing whole cause problems that they will have state and of our world. ecosystems to radically change in an to deal with. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Attempts to correct climate change will be very difficult and costly — A vast majority of scientists or impossible — if we wait until our atmosphere is thick with green- believe that global warming and house gases. Prevention, as always, is the least expensive solution. climate change is happening. However, we do not know how • The majority of land in our state is not very high above sea level. Most serious the effects may be, or of South Jersey is low-lying coastal plain. what reductions in greenhouse emissions are necessary to pre- • Climate change can be reduced, or maybe even prevented, by energy vent global warming. These conservation. Efficient technologies, from cars that get more miles per data are only estimates and will gallon to compact fluorescent light bulbs that save electricity are vary from actual emissions. available now to help us save energy. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 56 INDICATOR Drinking Water Quality Drinking Water Quality g The percent of public drinking water systems which tested within allowable levels for all chemicals for which testing is conducted: Increasing 100 Percent meeting standard 95 90 85 80 75 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Importance Economic Social In New Jersey we are blessed with In communities with poor water, A safe and stable water supply is abundant water supplies and drink- property values fall and economic the foundation of any civilization. ing water systems that protect us potential declines. The most cost- Most of us are familiar with the sad from most of the chemicals, bacte- effective way to avoid these losses sight of a dilapidated and aban- ria, viruses and parasites that affect is through pollution prevention. doned older urban center. Now the health of people in other parts Once a water supply becomes seri- imagine a neighborhood in perfect of the world. However, no water ously contaminated, treatment condition, yet completely aban- supply is totally safe and regular costs can easily run into the mil- doned by its residents. This has testing is necessary. This indicator lions of dollars. happened in towns around the tells us how often our water sys- world where the water supply has tems fail a test for one of the more Environmental become severely polluted. common harmful chemicals. Since Water deemed too polluted to meet Although no New Jersey town suf- 1985, the number of water systems safety standards for people may also fers today from this fate, residents failing tests for chemicals has contain chemicals that can harm of many New Jersey towns have dropped from more than 20 per- ecosystems and sensitive wildlife serious concerns about the health cent to about 5 percent. However, such as frogs, whose populations of their water systems. such tests measure only a small have declined alarmingly in recent fraction of known drinking water years. Clean water and a pollution- contaminants. free environment is as vital to our ecosystems as it is to our health. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • Access to potable water is the single biggest public health issue in the The 17 chemicals measured world. here are only a small fraction of the known drinking water • Bottled water often costs more per gallon than gasoline or milk. contaminants suspected as detrimental to human health. • "Volatile organic compounds" contamination comes from industrial Testing for more contaminants, pollution of groundwater, urban and agricultural runoff and industrial and revised risk assessments for discharges into surface water supplies. each, would allow us to develop a • Studies suggest that the amount of chemicals we put in our water to more meaningful drinking water keep it clean has been increasing because the quality of our natural indicator. The data do not include water supply has gotten worse due to development and industry. more than 4,000 non-community water systems in New Jersey. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 57 INDICATOR Solid Waste Production h Total Solid Waste Production Pounds of solid waste generated annually, per New Jersey resident: Increasing Pounds of waste per capita 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Importance Economic damage frequently pales in compar- New Jerseyans generate about two Waste is a misplaced resource. ison to the damage we do in tons of garbage every year — per Disposing of waste is an economic removing these materials from person. Throughout the United burden and an expensive part of nature in the first place. States, we produce nearly twice as local services. The most successful much waste per citizen as any firms and economies in the world are Social usually those that use the most effi- Political and social battles over other country in the world. This is cient manufacturing processes. True where to locate, and how to pay for, a costly situation. We pay to buy efficiency means wasting little and waste disposal facilities have unneeded materials such as packag- avoiding purchase of costly materials become contentious and threaten ing, and pay again to dispose of and energy in the first place. to split our state along racial, eco- them. Recycling helps, yet is still nomic and geographic lines. vastly more expensive in cost and resources than using less in the first Environmental Concerns include odor, the traffic We mostly get rid of our waste by of heavy trucks, and the health risks place. The adage, "reduce, reuse, burying it in landfills or burning it of pollution from incinerators and recycle" is even more relevant and in incinerators. This results in landfills. Poor and minority com- necessary today than ever. groundwater pollution, poor air munities may receive more than quality and many other forms of their fair share of these facilities. environmental degradation. Such Things to think about Knowledge gaps Recycling Rate • With better technologies and knowledge of This indicator does not reveal the 100 environmental issues, we could easily have composition of our trash. Since reduced the amount of waste we produced some materials, such as batteries, 80 during the 1980s and 90s. But instead, since are more of a problem than oth- 1985 each of us has increased our waste by ers, it is important to know this. Percent waste recycled more than 1,000 pounds, on average. We also do not know how much 60 damage was caused bringing • Our increase in waste generation was until these materials to New Jersey. In 40 recently somewhat offset by dramatic increases order to understand the true cost in recycling, but this is not a complete of the waste we produce, we need solution and the state's ultimate goal is to to do "life cycle analyses," where 20 reduce the size of the total waste stream. This we track the materials we use is called "source reduction." over time. Such information is 0 '86 '88 '90 '94 '95 mostly unavailable. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 58 INDICATOR Air Pollution Air Pollution j Number of unhealthful days annually caused by ground-level ozone, particulate matter and carbon monoxide: Decreasing 100 80 Unhealthful days 60 40 20 0 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 s Ozone s Carbon Monoxide s Particulates Importance Economic way. In addition, contaminants can Clean air to breathe is one of life's We pay for poor air quality in work their way up the food chain absolute necessities. Although New many ways. We pay to treat the ill- in ever-higher concentrations and Jersey's air quality has improved nesses it causes. Neighborhoods interfere with natural systems. We significantly, it is still considered lose as property values fall in places have a good understanding that very bad and among the worst in where the air is bad. Workers and many of the factors increasing air the country for certain contami- businesses lose when limits are pollution, such as new roads and nants. Ground-level ozone is the imposed on new development development, also have severe main component of smog, a chron- because federal air quality standards impacts on ecosystems due to habi- ic air-quality problem with serious are not met. Businesses lose also if tat loss. health effects in our state. shoppers and tourists are warned to "Particulate matter" are tiny parti- stay indoors because of poor air Social quality. Severe air quality problems force cles of pollution that can lodge in people to stay indoors, preventing people's lungs and create respirato- ry problems. Carbon monoxide is a Environmental recreation and social activities. Air Poor air quality is a generally recog- pollution is often concentrated in hazardous substance (deadly at nized public health threat. It is low-income and minority areas, high concentrations) produced linked to significant long- and and so represents an inequity in when fossil fuels are burned for short-term respiratory illness. Air our society. For years, New energy and especially when gaso- pollution can be detrimental to Jerseyans have suffered jokes about line is burned in cars. wildlife and ecosystems in the same our state's poor air quality. Things to think about Knowledge gaps • A significant portion of New Jersey's air pollution is emitted in other states and blows These data, based on the into our state. Changes in those out-of-state emissions are not within the control of our number of days health citizens or our state government. standards were exceeded, do not take into account • Ozone levels are strongly affected by weather conditions. Hot, sunny, windless days tend changing air quality stan- to exacerbate the ozone problem. The relatively cool summer of 1996 kept ozone levels dards for particulates and down, as reflected in the infrequent number of days where ozone levels exceeded the other pollutants. This indi- health standard. This does not, however, necessarily indicate that the presence of air cator does not measure all pollutants declined in 1996. problem air pollutants. SOURCE: NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 59 Glossary Agenda 21: The non-binding agreement signed by world component of sustainable cultural, ecological and economic nations at the 1992 United Nations Conference on systems because it makes them more resilient and adaptable Environment and Development (see Earth Summit). Agenda to changes. 21 sets out conditions and recommendations for achieving global sustainability. Earth Summit: The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development or UNCED (the "Earth Benchmark: A point of reference of a standard against which Summit") held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. The Earth measurements can be compared; sometimes a goal or a target. Summit was the largest gathering of heads of state in world Examples: record highs in the stock market, optimal water history. levels in wetlands, so-called "full employment" levels of acceptable unemployment. Often confused with Indicator. Economic Development: See Development. Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms in an Economy: Originally, the "management of a household." Ecosystem. (See also Diversity) More commonly today, the system of production, distribu- tion and consumption of goods and services in the larger Brundtland Commission: Officially, the World Commission scale. on Environment and Development, charted by the United Nations and chaired by Norwegian Prime Minister Groe Ecosystem: An integrated system of living species, their habi- Harlem Brundtland. From 1984-87 it studied global environ- tat and the processes that affect them. mental, economic and social trends and published its recom- mendations in the 1987 report, Our Common Future, which Efficiency: The most standard definition is the ratio of effec- set a global agenda for Sustainability. tive or useful output to the total input of any system, whether this is the energy delivered to run a machine or the BTU: "British Thermal Unit," a unit of measure for energy. natural resources consumed to produce products. Economists Specifically, one BTU is the amount of energy required to have taken a different tack, and define "efficiency" as socially raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree optimal resource allocation. Fahrenheit, starting from 39.2 degrees. Metric equivalents: 1 BTU = 0.293 watt hours = 1055 Joules. Endangered species: Species whose populations and habitat have declined to the point where extinction is imminent, Culture: An integrated pattern of human beliefs, values, requiring significant human interventions to protection of behaviors and institutions shared by a distinct group, the habitat to preserve them (as defined by the Endangered inhabitants of a region or the citizens of a nation. Used in Species Act). (See also Species.) some contexts as a synonym for the arts and other forms of social expression. Environment: "The circumstances, objects or conditions by which one is surrounded" (Webster's). Often used to refer Development: "To evolve the possibilities of" (Webster's New only to natural Ecosystems apart from human settlement, Collegiate Dictionary). A process of growth or change. Often Environment is more accurately understood to include other used in the phrases "economic development," connoting an natural and human-made physical conditions. expansion of economic opportunities and jobs, and "sustain- able development," referring to economic and social changes Equity: The dictionary defines equity as fairness; freedom that promote human prosperity and quality of life without from bias or favoritism. However, one must keep in mind causing ecological or social damage. Sometimes confused that a fair process can yield unequal results. with Growth. Diversity: Difference and variety. Diversity is an essential 60 Global Forum: The 1992 meeting of non-governmental Economy and fulfill human needs and desires. (See also organizations (NGOs) in Rio de Janeiro, which ran parallel to Renewable and Nonrenewable) the meeting of governments at the Earth Summit. NGO par- ticipants signed a set of "Citizen Treaties" that went far Riparian: Refers to land adjacent to a river, watercourse or beyond the agreements made by governments in Agenda 21. body of water. Growth: Increase or expansion. Used in the phrase "econom- Society: From a Latin root meaning "companion." Society in ic growth" to mean an expansion in production, jobs and rev- the broadest sense refers to the entirety of a community, the enue. Often confused with Development, which does not whole web of living relationship among people, their Culture, necessarily include the idea of physical increase in size. and their Environment. Indicator: A measurement that reflects the status of a system. Species: A biological classification referring to a group of Examples: the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the number of organisms who share similar traits and genetic codes and who spotted owls in a forest ecosystem, an oil pressure gauge on are capable of interbreeding. an engine. Sustainability: "Long-term health and vitality: economic, Linkage: A direct or indirect causal relationship between two environmental and social" (New Jersey Future's definition). or more Systems, where changes in one affect the status of Achieving and maintaining sustainability is the goal of every the other. Linkages among systems are often reflected in the human society. Indicators that measure the health of those systems. Sustainable: Able to endure over time. A sustainable society Non-renewable: Finite in quantity. Fossil fuels like gasoline is one that is just, healthy, vital, resilient and able to creative- are considered "non-renewable resources" because they exist ly adapt to changing conditions over the long term. (See also only in limited amounts and their disappearance is essentially Development and Our Common Future) permanent. (See also Resources and Renewable) Sustainable Development: "Development that meets the Our Common Future: The report of the Brundtland needs of the present without compromising the ability of Commission, which linked economic development to allevi- future generations to meet their own needs." From the ate poverty with environmental protection to prevent ecologi- United Nations World Commission on Environment and cal catastrophe. The report defined Sustainable Development Development (The Brundtland Commission, 1987) as that which "meets the needs of the present without com- promising the ability of future generations to meet their own System: A set of actors or entities bound together by a set of needs." rules and relationship into a unified whole. A system's health is dependent on the health of the whole pattern, which can Per Capita: Latin for "by heads." A measurement that is pre- sometimes be reflected (and thus measured) in the status of a sented in terms of units per person, as opposed to a total or key part of the system (see Indicator). aggregate figure. Watershed: A geographical area whose boundaries are deter- Renewable: Able to be continually replenished. Rainwater, mined by the flows of water following gravity to a principal solar and hydro-electricity and human creativity are all con- tributary, river or body of water. Watersheds may be of many sidered to be Renewable Resources. (See also Resources and different scales, from relatively small to the very large. s Non-renewable) Resources: "A source of supply or support; available means" (Webster's). The energy and materials used to support an 61 New Jersey Future 1999 Board of Trustees About New Jersey Future Honorary Co-Chairs policies contained in the State Plan, N Brendan T. Byrne ew Jersey Future is a non- Thomas H. Kean profit, nonpartisan research taking legal action when necessary to and advocacy organization, stop sprawl and protect open lands. John J. Degnan dedicated to improving the quality of With the publication of this Chair life in New Jersey. report, we mark a major milestone on Dorothy P. Bowers New Jersey Future was created in the path toward sustainability. NJF Vice Chair the mid-1980s to respond to the will continue its work to identify and Susan S. Lederman simultaneous decline of New Jersey's report on progress toward these goals, Secretary major cities and the rapid spread of to regularly update these indicators low-density suburban development, and to create new indicators. Anne S. Babineau Treasurer which were altering the geographic The next major task is to develop and social landscape of the state. benchmarks, or numerical targets, for Dianne R. Brake each indicator. Additional communi- At its inception, New Jersey Andrew M. Chapman Future's mission was the adoption of ty dialog and scientific expertise will Anthony J. Cimino Sally Dudley the State Development and be required to ensure these bench- W. Cary Edwards Redevelopment Plan. While support marks are meaningful. Robert Geddes for the State Plan remains at the core Further activities will include James G. Gilbert Robert Graff of its mission, New Jersey Future's working with state agencies to incor- James W. Hughes work has expanded to include advo- porate sustainability concepts in their Jerrold L. Jacobs cating for planning, conservation and planning and efforts; helping local Jack Kace Donald Linky economic development policies that communities identify local priorities Sandra L. Matsen will lead to smart growth and sustain- and analyze policy options from a Chester P. Mattson sustainability perspective; increasing able development in New Jersey. David F. Moore New Jersey Future has launched the visibility of sustainability in pub- Gerald Neary Thomas M. O'Neill the nation's first Sustainable State lic debates and major policy deci- Steven Pozycki process, partnering with the State of sions; and developing tools and Melvin R. Primas New Jersey to bring together a wide resources – from this report, to our Ingrid W. Reed Richard Roper range of people and institutions to internationally popular Sustainable Carol Rufener identify solutions to the most press- State brochure – to increase the quali- R. Edwin Selover ing challenges facing our state and ty of our lives. Kevin Shanley John P. Sheridan, Jr. work toward a common vision of You can join those supporting Judith Stanley what New Jersey should be. New this effort by visiting our web site: Edwin H. Stier www.njfuture.org or by calling New Jersey Future also promotes open- Nancy Tindall space protections and smart-growth Jersey Future at 609/393-0008. s Neil Upmeyer Barbara Burgess Wolfe Thomas J. Stanton, Jr. Past Chair 62 The Sustainable State Project Project Director: Randall E. Solomon Executive Director: Barbara L. Lawrence Managing Editor: Susan M. Burrows Writing Consultant: Hal Kane Independent data verification: Clint Andrews, Ph.D. and Jun Bi, Ph.D. Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University Research Analyst Interns: Jorge Casimiro Jason Lien Chris Taylor Contributing Staff: Dani-Ella Betz Samuel M. Hamill, Jr. Marianne Jann Dorrie Margolin Kathleen Sweeney Graphic Layout: Marilyn Rose, Marilyn Rose Design Cover Photos: Canoeists: Courtesy of NJ Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Division of Travel and Tourism Woodbridge Train Station: Courtesy of NJ Transit Newark Skyline: Courtesy of PSE&G For additional copies of this report, or the technical appendix, contact New Jersey Future at 609/393-0008, or view the entire report at New Jersey Future's web site: www.njfuture.org. For more information about New Jersey's Sustainable State Project, visit New Jersey Future's web site or contact New Jersey Future at 204 West State Street, Trenton NJ 08608 Phone: 609/393-0008 E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com 100 PERCENT POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER PRINTED WITH SOY INK 63 Acknowledgements A report of this scope and detail comes only via countless iterations and meetings where content was discussed by hundreds of New Jerseyans. We thank all those who participated — from those who helped develop the initial project guidelines, to those who provided comment on the substance, to the academics and experts who helped develop the indicators, to the advisory com- mittee that guided the process. A few people stand out for their extraordinary contributions, most notably David F. Moore, who started New Jersey on this quest for goals. Also, Dorothy Bowers, Sally Dudley, Pamela G. Frank, Robert D. Graff, Randolph T. Haviland, Paul Hofhius, Jane Kenny, Donald Linky, Joseph J. Maraziti, Jr., Eileen McGinnis, Carleton K. Montgomery, Ingrid Reed, Martin Robins, Robert Shinn, James Shissias, the Rev. Franklin "Skip" Vilas and John Weingart. We are also grateful for the work of the Project's Academic Advisory Committee, outstanding experts in the many fields represented in this report, who provided us with access to the best research, data and thinking. Special thanks to Committee members: Candace Ashmun, president-Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions; Dr. Clinton Andrews, assistant professor-Department of Urban Planning and Policy Development, Rutgers University; Dr. Henry Coleman, director-Rutgers University Center for Government Services; Carl Henn, chairman of The Environmental Commission of New Brunswick; Dr. Peter Jaffe, professor-Department of Civil Engineering, Princeton University; Dr. Robert Lake, professor and associate director of The Center for Urban Policy Research; David F. Moore, executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation; Dr. Mark Robson, executive director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute; and Dr. Robert Tucker, professor- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University. We are especially grateful for the assistance provided by key state agency employees who were valu- able resources for this report, especially William Beetle, Ruth Charbonneau, Pattie Cheesman, Marilyn Dahl, Terence French, John Gilbert, Douglas Groff, Robert A. Kull, Kerry Kirk-Pflugh, Leslie McGeorge, John Moore, Matt Polsky and Ellen Schechter. New Jersey Future gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following organizations, without which The Sustainable State Project would not be possible: The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Merck Company Foundation PSE&G Foundation The State of New Jersey William Penn Foundation ______________ New Jersey Future also wishes to express special appreciation to Judy Jengo, deputy commissioner - Department of Environmental Protection, for serving as Sustainable State Project Liaison. 64
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