Visiting Fellow Brian Swett Talks Cities and Climate Change on WBUR

Brian Swett, a Visiting Fellow at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, joined WBUR’s Morning Edition on Thursday to speak about the role of cities in addressing climate change.

Swett, the former Chief of Environment, Energy & Open Space for the City of Boston, stated that cities are at the front line of both addressing and preparing for climate change. He pointed to the growing population of cities, as over 70 percent of the global population is projected to live in urban areas by 2030. He also noted that cities are making significantly more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction commitments than the national pledges being made at the UN conference in Paris. Swett spoke at length about the challenges cities like Boston face due to sea level rise, and explained how climate resilience is becoming a key aspect of city planning. Click here to listen to the full interview.

Swett, a nationally recognized leader in climate change and sustainability strategy, is an Associate Principal in Arup’s Boston office and is the Director of Cities and Sustainable Real Estate.