Last updated: 9/24/24

Boston's Green New Deal

Learn more about Boston's Green New Deal key priorities and metrics.

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What is the Green New Deal?

Boston’s Green New Deal (GND) is a vision for tackling the climate crisis in Boston — with policies that address economic, social, and racial inequities, while advancing health, livability, and justice throughout our neighborhoods for all Boston residents.

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Explore the Green New Deal's key metrics:

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Priority Areas

Building Decarbonization

The City is focused on decarbonizing and electrifying new and existing buildings to drastically reduce carbon emissions and promote healthy home and work environments.

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Transportation

We’re committed to ensuring all residents have easy and affordable access to an efficient, carbon-free transportation network.

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Clean Energy

We are expanding our role in the energy transition by supporting regional greening of the grid with new clean infrastructure, on-site generation, and clean energy procurement.

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Resilience and Nature

From rising sea levels to hotter summer days, Boston is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. We are working to strengthen Boston’s 47-mile coast, while ensuring all residents benefit from trees, parks, and nature in our city.

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Workforce

The City and our partners in education, labor, and the private sector are developing our green workforce to ensure a just transition to a green economy.

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Funding

To accomplish our climate and equity goals, the City is actively pursuing federal funding opportunities as they become available—including from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

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Progress Towards a Green New Deal

Through a series of ambitious policies and city-wide investments, Boston has been steadily advancing towards its climate and equity objectives, striving to achieve carbon neutrality in our built environment, promote economic vitality, and enhance climate resilience across the city for all our residents. As the urgency of climate action intensifies, the progress of the Boston Green New Deal stands as our all-of-government commitment to safeguarding our planet for current and future generations. Below is a snapshot of our achievements so far.

Jumpstarting the Gnd with federal funding

The City of Boston utilized American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds to jumpstart transformative citywide and community projects to combat the climate crisis and revitalize local economies disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chart below details how the City of Boston has allocated ARPA funds into various climate initiatives. By the end of 2024, all ARPA funds must be allocated, prompting the City of Boston to shift its focus towards pursuing federal funding opportunities such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to continue our efforts towards becoming a Green New Deal city. For details on BIL and IRA funding awards and opportunities, visit the GND Federal Funding Dashboard. Additional information regarding ARPA funding allocations can be found on the City's ARPA website.

Fare-free bus pilot (2022-2026): $16,400,000
Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program: $10,000,000
S.P.A.C.E. Grants: $9,000,000
PowerCorps Boston: $9,000,000

America's Best Biking City Initiatives: $8,000,000
Healthy and Green Retrofit Pilot Program: $5,000,000
Electrification of BPS School Buses: $2,500,000
Urban Tree Canopy/Boston Tree Alliance Program: $2,500,000

Timeline of accomplishments

2024

Stormwater utility fee

Topic: Resilient Stormwater Infrastructure
To fund the modernization of Boston's stormwater infrastructure, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission launched a new stormwater utility fee based on the amount of impervious surface on a property. Funds from this surcharge will go towards stormwater management systems, such as pipe replacement and upsizing and investments in green infrastructure, to proactively mitigate flooding and pollution runoff.

Boston supports offshore wind energy

Topic: Accelerate Decarbonization
The City of Boston expressed support for Avangrid's proposal for offshore wind energy. If it is selected by the state, Boston would become the first US city to contract for offshore wind. The energy generated from the project would partially be used to power our municipal buildings, contributing significantly to our 2030 goal of procuring 100% clean energy for municipal operations.

Boston invests in esg funds

Topic: Divest/Reinvest in a Climate Just Future
Since 2021, Boston has invested $400M of public funds into environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds. This year, for the first time, the City of Boston will invest money from its trust fund into an ESG portfolio managed by a sustainable investments manager.

2023

Fossil Fuel-Free Municipal Buildings Executive Order signed

Topic: Accelerate Decarbonization
The Executive Order requires all new construction and major renovation projects in the City's building portfolio are fossil-fuel free.

SPACE Program launched

Topic: Equitable Small Business Recovery
The Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises (SPACE) Grant Program provides grants of up to $200,000 to small businesses looking to open a new storefront, or expand their existing store, in vacant commercial space.

Boston joined the C40 Divest/Invest Accelerator

Topic: Divest/Reinvest in a Climate Just Accelerator
C40 Cities is a global network of cities calling on united action to confront the climate crisis. The Divest/Invest Accelerator program is a coalition of C40 cities that champion fossil fuel divestment of city assets.

Good food purchasing program at boston public schools

Topic: Food Justice
The Boston Public School system will be the first to implement the Good Food Purchasing Program framework to ensure healthy, locally sourced food is accessible to all BPS students.

SCALE Program launched

Topic: Equitable Small Business Recovery
The Supplying Capital And Leveraging Education (SCALE) program will assist small businesses, with a focus on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), with industry-specific technical assistance, programming, and consulting services. The program aims to prepare these small businesses in their attempt to compete for public and private contracts.

2022

Urban Forestry Division created

Topic: Urban Tree Canopy
The Urban Forestry Division sits within the Parks and Recreation Department and is tasked with executing the Urban Forestry Plan. The Division will proactively and equitably expand our urban tree canopy, focusing on under-canopied and environmental justice neighborhoods, as well as support workforce development opportunities.

stormwater infiltration requirements for city projects

Topic: Resilient Stormwater Infrastructure
A new policy requires qualified City projects include stormwater mitigation through the use of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater flooding and filter pollutants from runoff before it reaches our waterways. Green infrastructure also increases our urban tree canopy, mitigates the urban heat island effect, and enhances ecological diversity.

PowerCorpsBOS launched

Topic: Urban Climate Corps
This program provides career pathways through job training essential to our green workforce. PowerCorpsBOS pays its members to participate in hands-on training in fields such as building operations, urban forestry, and urban greening. Since its start, the program has graduated three cohorts totaling 80 participants.

2021

Small business relief and restaurant revitalization funds

Topic: Equitable Small Business Recovery
These relief funds were launched to assist small businesses in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Divestment passes for City of Boston investments

Topic: Divest/Reinvest in a Climate Just Future
At her first bill signing, Mayor Michelle Wu signed an ordinance requiring the City of Boston divest all public funds from fossil fuel, tobacco, and private prison industries by the end of 2025.

Three fare-free bus routes start

Topic: Transportation Justice
In an effort to make public transit more convenient, accessible, and affordable for all residents, bus routes 23, 28, and 29 will be free to use for all riders from March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2026.

2020

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing passed

Topic: Clean Energy Financing
The City of Boston submitted an Order authorizing building owners in Boston to participate in the statewide PACE financing program. This program, overseen by MassDevelopment, provides low-cost and long-term funding for energy efficiency projects in large buildings. This critical financing tool can be used by building owners subject to the emissions reduction requirements outlined in the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) for their building decarbonization and electrification projects.

Current Green New Deal Projects

Boston is pioneering innovative solutions to combat climate change while fostering equitable growth and resilience. From renewable energy initiatives to green infrastructure projects and sustainable transportation developments, each project embodies our dedication to creating a more vibrant, healthy, and inclusive city for all. Below is a snapshot of Green New Deal projects with dedicated budget and staff happening across City departments.

Get Involved

Explore MassSave

Explore cost-saving energy efficiency solutions for your home or small business

Find an EV Charger near you

Use this map to find electric, publicly accessible fueling stations near you

Join Green 100

Use this form to opt in for the 100% renewable offering of Boston's Community Choice Electricity Program

Join AlertBoston to stay in-the-know in case of an emergency

Apply to PowerCorpsBOS

Apply for PowerCorpsBOS, our green jobs training program for young adults.

GND in Action

Aug 12

Streets Cabinet Announces Bluebikes Expansion Planning

Streets Cabinet

Aug 8

Program uses technology to analyze signals to reduce congestion on city streets

City of Boston Partners with Google on Traffic Signal Optimization

Mayor's Office

Aug 5

Pilot initiative provides discount vouchers to eligible residents

Mayor Wu Announces Launch of the Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program

Mayor's Office

Aug 5

Boston Revamps Environment, Energy and Open Space Cabinet for Dedicated Climate Resilience Focus and Leadership

Environment

Jul 25

500+ Of BPS’ 750 Buses Run on Either Electric Power or Propane Gas

BPS Wins Green Fleet Award

Schools

Jun 28

Mayor Michelle Wu attends the ribbon cutting of The Pryde in Hyde Park, Boston and Massachusetts’ first designated LGBTQ-friendly housing development for older residents.

Mayor Wu, Senator Warren, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Local Elected Officials and Residents celebrated the Grand Opening of The Pryde in Hyde Park

Mayor's Office

Jun 28

An electric vehicle charging station at a Jamaica Plain municipal lot

Mayor Wu Announces Expanded Curbside Charging for Electric Vehicles

Mayor's Office

Jun 27

Group photo at the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild Ribbon Cutting

Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Parks Department Cut Ribbon on Improvements to Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild

Parks and Recreation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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GND Metrics Glossary

A description of each of the GND metrics can be reviewed in the Metrics Glossary, found below:

GND Metrics Glossary

Boston's Climate Change Plans

Boston’s Climate Action Plan and Climate Ready Boston reports have laid the foundation for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and building climate resilience. We report on the progress of the recommendations in these plans through annual progress reports. We also conduct annual GHG tracking to measure trends toward our 2050 carbon neutrality goals.