Boston’s draft 2014 Climate Action Plan

By Eric Smalley

The City of Boston has released a draft of its 2014 Climate Action Plan (PDF), the second iteration of the city’s every-three-years master plan for combating and responding to climate change. Take a look at the plan and then submit your input. There are several ways to do so (see below).

From the city’s announcement:

The Climate Action Plan gives tangible steps and a long-term vision for making Boston greener, healthier, and more prosperous. From creating local and clean energy, to preparing for climate disasters like Superstorm Sandy, to making sure our waste gets recycled and reused...

When completed, the final 2014 Plan will include:

• A new, more rigorous greenhouse gas measuring and modeling methodology, with a first look towards Boston’s 80 percent by 2050 emissions reduction goal.
• More comprehensive climate preparedness strategies.
• An emphasis on key cross-cutting themes of social equity, economic development, community engagement, and public health and safety.
• More extensive and inclusive community engagement process.
• A new performance measurement system to measure year-over-year progress and keep us on track to meeting Boston’s goals.

The draft is open for public comment until December 1. People can submit comments on the Greenovate website, by e-mail at CAP2014@cityofboston.gov or by regular mail to:

Nancy Girard, Commissioner
Environment Department, Suite 709
1 City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA 02201

You can also learn about -- and comment on -- the City’s draft climate plan in person at Mayor Walsh's Civic Academy on Monday, November 17 at 6:30 pm. Representatives from the city's Environment and Energy Department will be on hand to discuss the plan. The Civic Academy will be held at the New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. For more information, contact the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services at (617) 635-3485.