Austin Horne
With climate change impacts already occurring in many parts of the Eastern U.S. Coast, citizens in many major metropolitan areas are becoming intimately aware of the dangers that climate change-induced sea level rise poses to their communities. According to recent peer-reviewed research, heavily-populated, low-lying coastal areas in New England are vulnerable to tidal flooding as sea levels rise due to climate change. What’s more, some of Boston’s most recognizable neighborhoods like Back Bay, Downtown, the South End, and Logan Airport-adjacent East Boston are among the areas with the greatest future impact from this flooding. Needless to say, significant, increasing, and persistent flooding in all areas of the City is a major concern for City officials. As a response to the potential effects of climate change, the City of Boston has unveiled one of the most comprehensive and detailed climate impact studies to date for their local metropolitan region. While the plan concludes that a reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is the most effective way to mitigate climate change, municipalities like Boston have the ability to adapt to climate change in ways that protect their citizens. Released in December of 2016, The Climate Ready Boston report can truly be used as a model for other cities’ efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
In the beginning of the project, The City of Boston convened a group of climate scientists and experts to determine a consensus on what the effects of climate change will be for the Coastal Massachusetts area. The importance of using the latest scientific information in climate change plans should not be taken for granted and cannot be understated; furthermore, Boston’s location as an educational center with some of the world’s top universities and research centers makes it an ideal candidate to utilize this vital local resource. Using the region’s scientific expertise along with international research and ideas, the City framed its report around five key principles:
1. Generate multiple benefits where possible
2. Incorporate local involvement in design and decision-making
3. Create layers of protection by working at multiple scales (multiple, independent lines of defense that work in coordination with one another)
4. Design in flexibility and adaptability (to account for continually changing conditions as well as uncertainty in projections)
5. Leverage efforts in conjunction with building cycles (what actions, such as road repaving, are scheduled to be done already?)
These principles are aligned with best-practice guidelines for climate change adaptations, aiming to provide a layered, flexible approach that results in strong, resilient protections for City citizens. These principles also encourage working efficiently within existing City plans and Emergency Preparedness frameworks, which speeds up the process of implementation and minimizes the financial burden on local taxpayers.
One of the most groundbreaking approaches in the report, however, is its focus on community outreach and involvement. The report encourages extensive information sharing for, and input from, City citizens and local advocacy groups. As with any climate impact & adaptation assessment, the u
ltimate goal is to produce the best outcomes for impacted citizens. Citizen awareness, input, and, ultimately, buy-in are the most crucial aspects of this strategy and can make the difference between a successful plan and one that is not. Placing an emphasis on public outreach and involvement increases the plan’s on-the-ground knowledge that only community leaders can provide, such as critical local resilience opportunities and generating ideas for solving multiple challenges at once in their communities. All of this leads to increased community support for the plan’s implementation and long-term maintenance.
Of particular note is the City of Boston’s efforts to aim adaptation and resilience efforts toward its citizens who need it most. Older citizens, children, people with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, and other groups may not have access to helpful information or economic resources that can help protect themselves and their families from the effects of climate change and rising sea levels. Efforts to reach these populations are a targeted effort of the Climate Ready Boston report, and can enhance protection for Boston’s most vulnerable communities. Also of note is the plan’s proposal of work programs, which can provide valuable job opportunities for unemployed citizens in encouraging climate resiliency; installation and maintenance of green infrastructure, performing property resilience audits, and resilience retrofitting are among the opportunities available for Boston citizens under the plan’s guidelines. Additionally, prioritizing the use of minority- and women- owned businesses is a component of the plan that can benefit smaller enterprises not as likely to be involved in this type of work.
All of these components speak to a remarkably comprehensive, well-thought-out plan that not only identifies the specific impacts Boston will face in the coming decades, but also uses the latest science and in-depth local knowledge to target responses to the organizations and communities where it is best suited. The result is a multi-faceted, appropriately-targeted approach that includes many different stakeholders from around the City and aims to serve all citizens effectively. There is certainly no one-size-fits-all approach to climate change adaptation, and the Climate Ready Boston 2016 report serves this notion well. Its incorporation of peer reviewed scientific research and local information leads to a climate plan that is remarkably up-to-date, holistic, and targeted for its population. The report leaves Boston better prepared to deal with this increasingly severe situation, and can serve as a model for other municipalities across the United States that are just learning to deal with climate change and sea level rise.
For more information, please visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/climate-ready-boston