Impact

As a coastal city, Boston is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change: sea level rise, more frequent severe weather events, more severe flooding, and an increase in the number of days with extreme heat. To mitigate these effects as much as possible, the City of Boston has set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2050—an ambitious goal that will take an enormous effort on the part of the City, residents, and businesses. With approximately 50% of Boston’s GHG emissions coming from large buildings and institutions, including numerous commercial buildings, it is clear that the commercial real estate sector must be a driving force in meeting these goals (Greenovate Boston, 2014 Climate Action Plan Update, page 42). Additionally, the CRE sector must make use of available tools, technologies and strategies to prepare for the effects of climate change that are already ‘locked in,’ in order to ensure the economic security of Boston’s future.