In November 2025, New Jersey will elect a new governor who will determine how to address multiple environmental issues affecting the Garden State.
To prepare for this massive change, the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund hosted a public assembly in Newark as part of its Statewide Environmental Tour on July 23. There, Luke Pavlov, a campaign manager for the organization, hosted a discussion informing the public about environmental, health, and economic issues that will be affected by the Garden State’s next governor. “The point of this program is to make sure the environment is a top issue in this election upcoming,” said Pavlov, “but also just to make sure, residents across new Jersey are educated, to make sure they’re aware and make sure they’re active in environmental policy, make sure they’re active and voting and making sure that they’re aware of [the] issues.”
The event was also held to showcase Enviro Fix in ’26. This campaign is designed to provide the next governor with a comprehensive environmental agenda that emphasizes the protection of the state’s clean air, drinking water, and natural resources and environments. It also prioritizes achieving 100% clean energy by 2035, reducing energy costs for working families, protecting communities from natural disasters caused by climate change, and creating union worker jobs.
The NJLCV Education Fund releases a new policy guide every four years during a gubernatorial election. Enviro Fix ‘26’s guide features over 300 policy recommendations developed by a bipartisan coalition of over 25 partner organizations, including environmental, social justice, community-based, health, and civil rights groups.
Since this new policy guide discusses urban farming, the NJLVCED’s assembly took place at the Garden of Hope, a small agricultural hub owned by its partner organization, Newark Science and Sustainability. Founded by Tobias A. Fox, this local nonprofit creates sustainable environments through community green developments, such as the Garden of Hope, which supports Enviro Fix’s goal of creating resilient, eco-friendly communities.
“It’s been a really interesting experience to show how you can really transform a neglected space and restore hope where people have given up…and so, I’m hoping we can see this to its completion,” said Fox.
Local leaders and advocates gathered at the Garden to voice their concerns about the environmental issues affecting their communities. Speakers included Sharonda Allen, Executive Director of Operation Grow; Rev. Ronald Tuff, Vice President of the New Jersey Black Issues Convention; and Jeana Wirtenberg, PhD, Executive Director of the Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation.
In particular, they discussed recent phenomena such as air pollution, record-breaking heat waves, rising sea levels, flooding, and tornadoes that have plagued New Jersey. They also discussed how communities of color and low-income communities have been disproportionately affected by such health and safety hazards. This issue was acknowledged in 2018 by the current New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy.
“We, in low-income communities and communities of color, are hit first and the worst,” said Allen. “They are more likely to live near polluting industries, lack green infrastructure, and have fewer resources to recover after extreme weather events. These are environmental justice communities, and they deserve clean air, safe water, and protection from climate-driven disasters.” “Every day, from toxic air that harms our children’s lungs to polluted waterways that run through our neighborhoods and our community, especially Black environmental, we are paying the price for decades of environmental neglect,” said Rev. Ronald Tuff. “This is not just a policy issue. This is a moral crisis.”
This event also welcomed local college and high school students participating in Operation Grow’s summer learning program. Guests include Nadia Dua, a Newark resident studying at the University of Michigan, who gained greater insight into how her community has endeavored to resolve its environmental issues. “[This event] was very insightful only because I didn’t realize how many people were coming together to talk about their interest in the environment and helping their community,” said Dua. “You know, you don’t really see this a lot, especially in the city. So you find a sense of comfort in knowing we’re in this together and that we’re all working hard to improve the city and our health at the same time.”
This small public gathering was a small step toward the Enviro Fix in ‘26 goal of highlighting crucial environmental issues affecting New Jersey. With the gubernatorial election down to two candidates, Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli, the NJLVCED hopes they will both be open about their environmental goals and act in the public’s best interests as state governor. “We can’t do much at the federal level here in New Jersey this year, at least,” said Pavlov. “But what we can do is make sure we have someone in office in November who is going to fight for the issues that matter, especially in a community like Newark right now.”