Special to the Times-Free Press
Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata chaired a public hearing to review the Wu Administration’s draft 2030 Climate Action Plan. The hearing brought together senior City officials, environmental experts, advocacy organizations, and community groups to discuss implementation strategies, funding needs, and the plan’s focus on climate justice. The Council heard from the Mayor’s Office of Environment, Energy, and Open Space, including Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett, Director of the Office of Climate Resilience Christopher Osgood, and Boston Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia.
“Boston faces growing, immediate risks from heat island effect, coastal flooding, and climate unpredictability. Our city is responding with essential climate action to confront these impacts and address long-standing environmental inequities,” said Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata. “Now more than ever, we must ensure we are leading with coordinated, equity-driven climate strategies that protect our most vulnerable residents. The 2030 Climate Action Plan is a key example of this critical work, and I look forward to seeing the plan evolve with integrated feedback from experts, advocates, and the community.”
Administration officials presented an overview of the draft plan’s structure, its integration of greenhouse-gas reduction and resilience strategies, and its new climate-justice metrics. They highlighted the Mayor’s Climate Council, cross-department coordination, and the forthcoming second draft planned for February. Officials noted that buildings remain the largest source of emissions, and that the City is prioritizing coastal protection, extreme heat mitigation, and community-informed climate solutions.
Environmental and community leaders provided testimony on the urgency of implementation, equitable investment, and the need for long-term funding strategies. Organizations that testified included the Green Ribbon Commission, Vicinity Energy, Boston Climate Action Network (BostonCAN), Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), UMass Boston’s Stone Living Lab, and Boston Harbor Now.
Panelists emphasized transparent governance, clear metrics, expanded community partnerships, and funding mechanisms capable of supporting Boston’s 47 miles of coastline. They also discussed the role of nature-based solutions, workforce pathways with prevailing-wage standards, the need for regional collaboration, and the importance of aligning large institutions and private partners with municipal resilience efforts. Experts stressed the urgency of protecting vulnerable coastal areas and evacuation routes by 2030. Boston Harbor Now and the Green Ribbon Commission outlined current work on funding and financing roadmaps, including nature-based strategies and regional cooperation for shoreline protection.
Councilors and community organizations underscored the disproportionate climate burdens facing neighborhoods such as East Boston, Chinatown, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. Testimony highlighted the need for equitable distribution of green infrastructure, expanded tree canopy, clean-energy access, and anti-displacement safeguards as improvements are implemented.
BostonCAN and ACE emphasized strong community support for building electrification, energy-efficiency programs, and local renewable-energy solutions, particularly home retrofits in high-heat and basement-unit communities. The Administration discussed the Boston Energy Saver program and upcoming net-zero carbon zoning.
Across the panels, speakers reinforced the need for new, sustained revenue sources, especially given the loss of federal funding for coastal resilience. Models discussed included municipal climate financing tools, state and federal partnerships, green bonds, and other revenue mechanisms.
The Administration will continue incorporating community feedback and anticipates releasing the next draft of the Climate Action Plan in February, including strengthened metrics, dashboards, and identification of delivery partners. The Committee will continue to monitor implementation, budget alignment, and equitable distribution of benefits as the plan advances.
For additional information please contact the Office of Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata by phone at (617) 635-3200 or by email at [email protected].