BOSTON -
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey announced that she has
appointed Dr. Alison Brizius as Commissioner of the Environment
Department. In this role, Dr. Brizius will be responsible for supporting
the Department in achieving its mission of enhancing environmental
justice and quality of life in Boston by protecting air, water, climate,
and land resources, as well as preserving and improving the integrity of
Boston's architectural and historic resources. Dr. Brizius will assume
the role previously held by Carl Spector, who has retired after 16 years
with the Environment Department.
Dr. Brizius has
extensive background in supporting the City of Boston in mitigating and
adapting to the negative effects of climate change. Dr. Brizius is
currently the Director of Climate and Environmental Planning for the City
of Boston, a position she has held since 2017. She manages the
Environment Department's work on climate adaptation and resilience,
greenhouse gas reduction, air and noise pollution, wetlands protection,
parking freezes, and solid waste. Prior to her position with the City,
Dr. Brizius was the Executive Director of the Center for Robust Decision
making on Climate and Energy Policy (RDCEP) at the University of Chicago,
a multi-institutional interdisciplinary center founded to improve
society's ability to respond to climate change and energy supply
challenges. She received her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of
Chicago.
“Right now, our
communities are experiencing the impacts of climate change and it has
never been more critical to take urgent action to protect our residents’
health and quality of life,” said Mayor Janey. “Dr. Brizius has a wealth
of knowledge, experience and leadership that makes her the right person
to lead the charge in reducing our city’s carbon emissions and preparing
our residents for the effects of climate change.”
As Environment
Commissioner, Dr. Brizius will oversee programs related to climate
mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection, historic preservation,
and other aspects of sustainability. Dr. Brizius and her colleagues in
the Environment Department are responsible for steering the City of
Boston toward the goals outlined in Boston’s Climate Action Plan Update, which outlines strategies to reduce
carbon emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Among
related programs, the Environment Department includes the Air Pollution
and Control Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Boston
Landmarks Commission. Dr. Brizius began her new role on Monday, August
2nd.
Mayor Janey’s
Administration is taking steps to recognize and address the risks of
climate change, and to protect Boston’s urban ecosystem. Mayor Janey’s
Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes significant investments for
environmental resilience and climate justice including:
·
$48
million for Phase 2 and 3 of Renew Boston Trust, which is designed to
identify energy retrofit project opportunities in City-owned buildings to
create future energy savings.
·
$5
million to support the development of a Climate Ready Boston Harbor Study
that will examine the feasibility of measures along and within the harbor
to reduce vulnerability of coastal flooding due to sea level rise caused
by climate change.
·
$20
million to design and implement a signature, climate resilient waterfront
park along the Fort Point Channel.
·
$4
million in workforce development and training opportunities for green
jobs in the environment.
·
$1
million in workforce development and training opportunities for zero
waste and mobility jobs.
·
$500,000
to support residents in making energy efficient upgrades to their homes.
·
$340,000
to support a new Healthy Places Initiative targeted for environmental
justice populations, who often live in hotter neighborhoods with less
tree canopy cover.
·
$200,000
towards the preservation and maintenance of historic and cultural sites
in Boston.
Mayor Janey also recently
appointed Reverend Mariama White-Hammond as Chief of Environment,
Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston. The Cabinet includes the Environment
Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. As Chief, Rev.
White-Hammond oversees policy and programs on energy, climate change,
sustainability, building safety, historic preservation, and open space.
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