How Boston’s Next Mayor Can Accelerate the City’s Equitable Clean Energy Transition

As the Boston mayoral race heads to the primary on September 14, how can the next mayor equitably and rapidly accelerate the city’s clean energy transition to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and fossil fuel emissions for the city and region? A new whitepaper published today by the Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI) in partnership with the local academic and nonprofit communities, including ISE experts, recommends six near-term opportunities for early leadership on clean energy. It’s part of a four-paper series created by the BARI to help advise the next mayor about the challenges confronting Boston in transportation, public safety, clean energy, and housing.

“2021 marks a significant milestone for Boston, as we prepare to vote for our first elected mayor of color,” said Katharine Lusk, Co-Director and Founding Executive Director of the Boston University Initiative on Cities. “BU spearheaded this whitepaper series, together with colleagues at Northeastern University, UMass Boston, and other experts to provide our next mayor with the perspective of the broader academic and nonprofit communities and signal we’re here to help move Boston forward.”

“The City of Boston has a well-earned national and international reputation as a leader in climate action,” said Cutler Cleveland, Interim Director of the Boston University institute for Sustainable Energy. “But the impacts of climate change continue to raise the stakes, demanding faster and stronger action. Meeting the climate challenge in ways that enable all Bostonians to benefit from the clean energy transition requires intentional action that places equity at the center of all decision-making.”