Take action on climate change

In Boston, a changing climate means extreme heat, stormwater flooding, coastal and riverine flooding and sea level rise. This warming and changing of our climate is a result of people all over the world releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the use of fossil fuels. Every country, city, and person has a critical role to play in reducing global emissions that cause climate change. International agreements like the Paris Accord are meant to make sure everyone does their part in reducing emissions globally. But cities make up approximately 70% of the world’s total emissions which is why the hard work and big changes needs to happen at the local and individual level.

Here’s the thing: We can’t wait. Recent studies have proven that if we don’t accelerate our actions now, we won’t successfully curb global warming’s most dangerous, and potentially fatal, impacts. 

Here’s the good news: You have the power to make a change. Like many cities, in Boston, our greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, transportation, and waste. This means that the homes we live in, the places we work, and how we move between them hold great opportunity for all of us to take action on climate change. 

Reducing our contribution to climate change while also preparing for the impacts is vital to the health and safety of Boston residents, particularly communities of color, people with limited English proficiency, and people with low to no income. We encourage you to find something in this guide that you haven’t done before because every new action makes a difference. If you already recycle, great. Start biking. If you already recycle and bike, great. Weatherize your home. This guide is designed to help you make informed choices about which actions you can, and should, take next.