Sierra Club Applauds Findings of “Carbon Free Boston” Report and Calls for Ambitious Climate Action Plan

BOSTON, MA -- Mayor Marty Walsh announced the City of Boston’s next steps for updating Boston’s Climate Action Plan today, which include creating “implementation roadmaps” to reach the city’s climate goals. The Climate Action Plan will be informed by the newly released Carbon Free Boston report, produced by Boston University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy, which outlines pathways to achieving 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2050.

Key measures outlined in the Carbon Free Boston report include:

• Deep-energy retrofits and electrification programming, requirements, and incentives in Boston's existing buildings

• Zero Net Carbon (ZNC) construction in Boston's new buildings

• Electric vehicle adoption and installation of charging infrastructure, including for Boston's municipal fleet

• Integrating "new mobility" modes with Boston's legacy public transportation system including travel demand management

• Renewable electricity provided through local rooftop solar and community-choice aggregation, supporting local workforce development

Massachusetts Sierra Club Chapter Director Deb Pasternak issued the following statement:

“We applaud the work done by the Green Ribbon Commission and the City of Boston in laying out a clear pathway to reach our emissions reductions goal. The recommendations in Carbon Free Boston, including aggressive action on transportation and building energy efficiency, and purchasing 100 percent renewable energy are right on target. We urge Mayor Walsh to commit to implementing these essential strategies through an approach that benefits the city’s most vulnerable residents.”