Introduction and Overview of the Report

The purpose of this report is to assess Boston’s progress toward achieving net-zero emissions and becoming resilient to future climate disruptions in an equitable manner. It has been six years since the publication of the Boston Research Advisory Group Report on Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Projections for Boston and four years since the publication of Carbon Free Boston. While the main findings from Boston’s reports remain relevant, our understanding of resilience needs and mitigation strategies has become much clearer. Thus, our assessment of progress asks: How well is Boston—as a civic community—driving forward system transformations to meet climate, resilience, and equity goals?

Progress on Goals

The next section of the report looks more closely at our collective progress toward commonly-accepted goals necessary to rise to the challenge of climate change. These goals include Boston's expressed goal to bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, to enhance resilience significantly, especially for communities of color that have had disproportionate exposure to environmental harm and economic disinvestment, and to ensure that environmental justice is prioritized in allocating the benefits of climate action initiatives. While city government can play a key role in advancing on these goals, it cannot do it alone. State and federal policy, the private sector, and even individual actions can all have critical impact on Boston's progress.

Progress on Outcomes

To eliminate emissions, build durable resilience, and achieve climate justice, we must transform a broad set of deeply ingrained energy, infrastructure, and human systems. To that end, the report highlights 12 outcomes that are considered necessary to make progress toward the climate goals. Many of the outcomes touch on two or all three goals. The intention in this section is to advance the conversation by expanding understanding of each outcome and where we stand, rather than to grade any single entity on progress. Click below to jump to the section, or click on the labels for each individual outcome to see that specific summary (opens in a new window).

Our collective response to climate change will require more than just discrete or incremental projects. The report highlights four "big lifts," multidecade, multi-platform projects that would play critical roles in helping the city align with its climate and equity goals. These projects are not the only paths, but they represent the kind of well-funded, coordinated public and private sector partnerships that can make significant impact in our energy consumption and efficiency, our climate resiliency and the equitable protection of all people in the city and region from climate-related challenges.  Click on *explore the section* for a higher-level overview, or go to each big lift to explore the full chapter on each - or go even more in-depth in our supplemental reports.