Unparalleled in its location along the Hudson River, Hoboken is home to many. However, rapid changes in climate have made Hoboken susceptible to drastic changes in weather and rainfall. The rising sea levels add another layer of pressure and a prospective challenge for all future Hoboken residents. In an effort to alleviate these damages and cease further destruction, Hoboken has taken many new measures. Resiliency Park is the embodiment of Hoboken’s commitment to protecting our planet by being able to hold up to 450,000 gallons of rainwater and protect against flooding. Resiliency Park also hosted Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s newest climate action announcement.
On Wednesday, September 2, Bhalla announced that the City of Hoboken would be filing a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, other large oil distribution companies, and the American Petroleum Institute. The justification behind this legal action lies in big oil companies’ heavy contribution to climate change and their inability to release formally conducted research that showed negative long term impacts of their products and services. Bhalla stated, “Big oil companies are the latest example of reckless corporate greed, prioritizing profits over people, and prioritizing profits over the very future of our planet earth itself.” Bhalla also emphasizes that the oil companies knew the drastic effects that fossil fuels would have on the planet; these effects were predicted many decades ago.
“It’s time these companies pay their fair share and be held accountable for their actions and their role in climate change,” said Bhalla. Hoboken plans to use the money gained from this lawsuit as compensation for Hoboken’s climate adaptation plans and the economic losses they have already faced. Bhalla mentioned previous natural catastrophes such as Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene, and how harshly Hoboken residents were affected. Additionally, the increase in temperature and melting of the polar ice caps has contributed to about a foot of sea level rise surrounding Hoboken. The city has adapted to these changes, but these adaptations should never have been necessary, according to Bhalla.
Another issue regarding climate change is its disproportionate effects on communities of color, making it a pressing racial justice issue for this decade. The Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA), home to low-income families and families of color, was severely affected by recent superstorms and heavy rainfall. LaTrenda Ross, former resident of the HHA and Co-Chair for the Rebuild by Design Hudson River Project, detailed the difficult experiences of low-income and minority households during severe weather storms. For these reasons, Bhalla said that some money from the lawsuit will be allocated towards helping residents of the HHA.
Other speakers advocated for the lawsuit and praised Hoboken’s early efforts in climate action. Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club Jeff Tittel, Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Ed Potosnak, and law firm attorney Jonathan Abady all emphasized that urgent action is necessary to combat the drastic effects of climate change. This existential threat will take money, time, and strategic planning to solve. Putting pressure and condemning large corporations will certainly postpone environmental damage. While Hoboken has made a start on climate change action, other measures may be necessary in the near future.
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