This week, Mayor Walsh, joined by members of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)’s Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) along with state and regional leaders, participated in the Metro Mayors’ Climate Preparedness Summit. This Summit was the first of its kind on regional climate preparedness in the Boston metro area.
All 14 Mayors of MMC cities and towns came together to sign the Metro Boston Climate Preparedness Commitment–a regional agreement with the goal of establishing a common policy framework to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Mayor Walsh also announced the creation of the Metro Boston Climate Preparedness Task Force, which will help coordinate and implement preparedness action across government agencies and communities.
“The Metro Boston region is a dense coastal area that is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change,” said Mayor Walsh. “Cities and towns in the Greater Boston area share environmental vulnerabilities, and a regional platform will ensure coordinated and complementary resiliency and climate action efforts. Thank you to my fellow mayors and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for your commitment to this cause.”
Mayor Walsh first announced a regional coordination for climate preparedness last Fall, on the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. He recognized that while the Boston region has been able to dodge the worst impacts of several severe weather events–imagine what our city would look like if a winter storm had hit at high tide, on top of the snow we received this winter. Climate change knows no boundaries and it is time our cities and towns work together to prepare and stay resilient in this changing climate.
The City of Boston has been preparing for the changing climate since 2007, and Boston’s most recent Climate Action Plan Update specifically calls for bold strategies and actions on preparedness, including a more comprehensive and coordinated regional efforts–both of which were addressed at this Summit.
What does climate preparedness mean to you and your community? Share your thoughts and ideas here via the Community Forum!
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