Boston City Council calls for fossil fuel divestment

By Eric Smalley

The fossil fuel divestment movement is making progress here in the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, the House has passed HB 4354, a bill that creates a committee to assess whether a divestment plan for the state’s pension systems is feasible. The bill is now in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. On November 17th, the Boston City Council weighed in in favor of divestment, passing a resolution urging the Massachusetts legislature to take action before year’s end to begin divesting state retirement funds. The City Council resolution, sponsored by Councilors Matt O’Malley and Michelle Wu, passed by an 11 to 1 vote.

In sharp contrast to our local and state politicians, federal officials come off rather poorly in a new report by DeSmogBlog and Republic Report about the revolving door between government -- including the Obama administration -- and the fossil fuel industry. The report exposes efforts by the fossil fuel industry to gain government support for exporting fracked natural gas. The report details the efforts of former government officials lobbying on behalf of the fossil fuel industry. The industry has repeatedly claimed that fracked natural gas is intended for the domestic market. Though the climate and the environment will suffer no matter who burns the gas, the industry has garnered support for fracking by claiming that it will lower US energy costs and reduce US reliance on foreign oil.

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.