By Rocky Stern, Dayenu Campus Organizer
As the Campus Organizer for Dayenu, I spend most of my time working with college students across the country. But I also deeply care about New Jersey, the place where I was born and raised and still call home.
I grew up in Hudson County, and my call to climate action is deeply rooted in the climate impacts that have faced my community throughout my life.
I was 10 when Hurricane Sandy shut down my school for a week and damaged dozens of my friends’ homes. These floods have become more frequent throughout my life, and I think about how sea level rise will impact us all the time. Since I’m only 23, I’ll probably still be living in Hudson County when we face the full planetary consequences of burning fossil fuels.
As we begin 2026, let me share my boldest resolution for the new year: I will do everything I can to ensure New Jersey passes the Climate Superfund Act.
New Jersey: Take action to urge your legislators to pass the Superfund Act!
This bill requires fossil fuel corporations most responsible for pollution and emissions to pay into a state-run climate recovery fund. It targets companies that have contributed more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases globally since 1995 and have operated, sold, or distributed fossil fuels in New Jersey.
It would bring in billions of dollars from polluters to support cleanups, remediation and resilience projects, renewable energy, and green jobs. Other states have passed similar laws, and I believe it’s crucial to our future.
Right now in early January we are very close to the finish line! There will be a crucial vote on January 8. If you’re in New Jersey, please make sure your legislators hear from you.
At Sun Day in Manhattan in September 2025: Abby Breslow, Dayenu New York Organizer; Rocky Stern; and Bill McKibben
A few weeks ago, I traveled to the Statehouse in Trenton to advocate for the bill. It has huge support already: over 50 legislators across the Assembly and Senate have co-sponsored it, and dozens of municipalities and counties have passed resolutions in support. I have never been prouder of my state.
On January 8, I will be back for the bill’s hearing in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, a critical step in bringing this legislation into reality before Governor Murphy leaves office on January 13.
Alongside Food and Water Watch, Climate Revolution Action Network, Greenfaith, and many other environmental and faith groups, we are fighting harder than ever to make sure that polluters will pay for the damage they have caused to our state.
2026 can be a better year for climate than 2025 – but only if we deeply commit to ensuring that comes to pass. Let’s start the new year with a win; let’s pass the Climate Superfund Act!
rocky stern
Rocky Stern is an environmental justice organizer and revolutionary based out of Lenapehoking (NJ/NYC). Before Dayenu, Rocky was involved in student activism at the University of Oregon, and was a leader of the Coalition Against Environmental Racism and JVP until her graduation in 2024 with a B.S. in Philosophy and Environmental Studies. Professionally, Rocky has worked with many organizations, such as the Coalition for Food and Health Equity, Willamalane Parks and Recreation District, Environment New Jersey, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and the United Synagogue of Hoboken.