Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a new commitment to protecting the City of Boston from climate change impacts. The City will be one of the first in the nation to take part in the Climate Resilient Communities program, the first comprehensive climate adaptation program for local governments, developed by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. Boston was selected by ICLEI USA to be one of eight “Inaugural Adaptation Communities” that will be the first to receive its cutting-edge online tools, technical support, and other resources, including its new online Adaptation and Database Planning Tool (ADAPT).
Through this support, Boston will accelerate its efforts to prepare for climate change impacts that are already affecting the region and are expected to intensify in coming decades. In its April report to Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Climate Action Leadership Committee laid out a framework for approaching climate adaptation and recommended that the city should begin by focusing on the risks from sea-level rise, more frequent and intense heat waves, and more severe storms.
“Climate change is not a distant problem, but a threat that is here and now,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “We have a responsibility to protect the people, the businesses and institutions, the history and the future of Boston. By working with ICLEI and building on the adaptation measures we are already putting in place, we can ensure that Boston has a growing green economy and is prepared to remain vibrant and vital into the 21st century.”
The City of Boston’s adaptation efforts accompany its many programs to help residents and businesses reduce energy use and costs, lower the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, and spur innovation and the growth of green jobs and businesses. In August, Mayor Menino launched the Renew Boston Residential Program, which provides eligible Boston residents with free energy efficiency improvements such as air sealing and insulation upgrades to help conserve energy, save money and lower utility bills. In October, Mayor Menino announced a new initiative to reduce building permit fees for building owners implementing solar rooftop technologies and the publication of the Solar Boston Permitting Guide. And just this week, Mayor Menino strengthened Boston’s nationally renowned Green Building regulations by adopting a “stretch” energy code that achieves 20% higher efficiency than the Massachusetts base code.
Boston joins seven other cities and counties selected by ICLEI USA as Inaugural Adaptation Communities for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to climate protection. These include:
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Lee County, Florida
- Miami-Dade County, Florida
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)
- Tucson, Arizona
“The City of Boston’s climate leadership among local governments is confirmed by its foresight and wise commitment to preparing now for climate change impacts,” said Martin Chavez, former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Executive Director of ICLEI USA, the nation’s leading nonprofit membership organization of local governments committed to climate protection, clean energy, and sustainability. “For more than five years, local governments have expressed an urgent need for resources and guidance to help them prepare for the unavoidable impacts of climate change. ICLEI USA is proud to finally release these resources to the City of Boston and all our members.”