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What you need to know about Boston’s plan to cut emissions by 2030
If Boston meets its current climate commitments, the city could be on track for a 44% emissions cut by 2030.
Earlier this month, Boston officials introduced a comprehensive 2030 Climate Action Plan aimed at drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, while simultaneously preparing the city for the impacts of a rapidly changing climate, such as rising sea levels and more intense weather events.
This newly released draft – essentially “a roadmap for the next five years” – marks a significant step toward outlining a plan to meet Boston’s 2030 climate goals, in order to be on track for the city’s ultimate climate goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The final Climate Action Plan for 2030 is set to be released in Fall 2025.
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Boston’s climate roadmap sets clear emissions reduction goals: cutting citywide emissions by 60% in 2030 and hitting net-zero in 2050; launching coastal protection projects to guard the city’s 47-mile shoreline against flooding; reducing the urban heat island effect; and addressing iniquities faced by climate justice communities.
If Boston meets its current climate commitments – like electrifying the Boston Public Schools’ bus fleet – the city could be on track for a 44% emissions cut by 2030, according to the report.
Below, see five takeaways from the plan.
Buildings produce 70% of Boston’s emissions. Here’s how the city aims to change that.
Despite making major inroads to reduce building emissions – like becoming the first city in the country to require new buildings to achieve net zero emissions from the day they open – Boston faces a major challenge.
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Buildings are the city’s top polluters, according to 2022 data from the city; they account for close to 70% of carbon emissions — largely due to fossil fuels used for heating and electricity.
To tackle building-related emissions, the city plans to continue its Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), which requires large buildings to steadily reduce their carbon footprint. The strategy also proposes decarbonization efforts for buildings of all sizes.
One challenge the plan specifically addresses is how to make Boston’s restaurant industry more climate-friendly. Restaurants tend to rely heavily on gas for cooking and often face physical and financial barriers to adopting electric alternatives. The plan proposed creating a specialized task force focused on finding feasible solutions for this sector.
Boston’s plan for cleaner transportation includes fare-free buses, biking, and EV growth
When it comes to reducing transportation emissions – which is the city’s second-highest producer of emissions at 29.3% – the focus lies on making existing transportation more sustainable and accessible.
Some strategies for residents include incentivizing drivers to take part in the city’s fare-free bus pilot and to use public transit or other modes of transportation like biking and walking.
The city also proposed expanding charging stations in municipal lots and at curbside stations, as well as exploring ways to finance EV charging stations via private-public partnerships.
Boston may set maximum indoor temperatures to combat rising heat
In addition to presenting traditional heat-combatting measures like expanding the city’s tree canopy, one of the plan’s more intriguing strategies proposes implementing a maximum indoor temperature standard for the city.
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This would entail state-level policies to set a maximum indoor temperature threshold for residents during extreme heat. The strategy also proposed a utility shut-off moratorium, which would prevent utility companies from disconnecting services during heat emergencies.
Equity and public engagement drive Boston’s climate strategy
Equity is a major theme throughout the strategy. The city is following a “climate justice” approach that recognizes the outsized impact of climate change on low-income and historically marginalized communities. The plan aims to use climate action as a tool to address long-standing disparities and promote social equity.
A notable difference in this climate plan is the level of public engagement. Community groups have been involved from the beginning through public surveys and workshops, helping to shape the draft. The current version of the draft also includes built-in survey opportunities.
Boston may launch climate fund to close financial gaps
To achieve its 2030 climate goals, Boston is considering partnerships with private organizations, embedding climate objectives into its annual budget, and even launching a local climate fund with the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank – the nation’s first green bank dedicated to affordable housing – to close gaps in financing.
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