 | | Acting Mayor Kim Janey sign ordiance. |
BOSTON - Tuesday,
October 5, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey today signed the City of Boston Building
Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), which was unanimously
approved by the Boston City Council with the goal of significantly reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging efficient use of energy and water,
and developing investments in a green economy. The amendment to BERDO gives
the City greater authority to set carbon targets for existing buildings
that decrease over time with all buildings achieving net zero emissions by
2050. This policy is the single most impactful initiative to curb Boston’s
carbon emissions.
 | Baolian Kuang (In front, 2nd from right) representing CPA
to this signing ceremony. |
“BERDO 2.0 is a
monumental achievement that will have positive impacts on our residents for
generations to come,” said Mayor Janey. “We know that the negative effects
of climate change bear a disproportionate burden on our most socially
vulnerable communities. I am grateful for this collaboration with the City
Council to actively minimize the challenges associated with climate change
and create more resilient communities.”
The BERDO amendment,
sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley, sets emissions
targets and reporting requirements for buildings greater than or equal to
20,000 square feet, establishes the Emissions Review Board with community
representation to increase accountability and transparency, and establishes
an environmental-justice focused Equitable Emissions Investment Fund. In
order for buildings to reduce their emissions, building owners may choose
to carry out: energy efficiency improvements, switch to clean, efficient
and electric heating systems, or fossil fuel free systems, and purchase
clean energy.
"Today is a
historic day for Boston. By passing and signing this transformative climate
legislation into law, we are codifying equity and resilience in our city's
large buildings,” said Council President Pro Tempore O'Malley. “I am proud
to have led and partnered with environmental justice organizations and
various stakeholders across the city to create aggressive, but achievable
sustainability goals for a carbon neutral future.”
“The amended
ordinance was designed with an equity lens to accomplish strategic
emissions reductions, and prioritizes benefits to environmental justice
communities, green jobs, and transparency,” said Reverend Mariama
White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space. “Through BERDO
2.0 we will ensure that climate justice is achieved so that those who have
contributed the least to climate change do not continue to face the most
extreme effects.”
Buildings in Boston
account for nearly seventy percent of citywide greenhouse gas emissions.
Four percent of buildings in Boston are covered by the ordinance and they
account for approximately sixty percent of Boston’s building emissions. The
ordinance was originally passed in May 2013, and required that all
commercial and residential buildings that are 35,000 square feet or have 35
units or more report their energy and water use to the City of Boston every
year. Buildings covered were also required to show concerted efforts to
reduce their energy use or emissions every five years through energy
actions or audits. The ordinance required the City of Boston to make this data publicly available.
The 2019 update to Boston’s Climate Action Plan identified a building emissions performance
standard as a principal tool to help the City accomplish a net zero
transition for existing buildings and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The FY21 Climate Action Report includes the most recent updates regarding
the status and implementation of the City of Boston’s plans and initiatives
around climate, energy, and waste. The signing of the amended ordinance is
part of a broader push by the City of Boston to lead on climate action and
was supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate
Challenge. Boston is one of the 25 winning cities in the Climate Challenge,
which is helping cities set and surpass ambitious climate goals.
“With its new
Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance, Boston is taking a
bold step to equitably lower its carbon footprint and achieve net zero by
2050. Designed in partnership with local stakeholders and community, this
policy will also help make Boston cleaner and healthier, while creating new
jobs,” said Kelly Shultz, who leads the sustainable cities program at
Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Bloomberg Philanthropies is proud to partner
with cities at the forefront of the climate fight to push for the climate
policies we know can reduce emissions and bring substantial benefits to
communities.”
“Our collaboration
with the Mayor's Office and City Council is groundbreaking because it puts
just transition theory into practice,” said Dwaign Tyndal, Executive
Director of Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE). “The
Environment Department, the City Council, community groups including ACE,
and stakeholders co-created a policy that will decrease emissions and
support environmental justice populations. We look forward to continuing to
partner with the City on its implementation."
"We are proud to
have involved over 100 residents who live in buildings over 20,000 square
feet in the design of the ordinance. This was a great model of the
City partnering with community organizations to equitably involve residents
in the decision making process and centering the most impacted. This
ordinance will not only greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also
improve air quality for environmental justice communities and enact rent
stabilization measures for low-income tenants whose buildings receive assistance
in retrofitting their buildings," said Mark Liu, Operations and
Development Director, Chinese Progressive Association.
"The Longwood
Medical and Academic Area is home to mission-driven, non-profit healthcare,
educational, and medical research organizations that deeply understand the
public health impacts of climate change. Longwood shares in the commitment
to make Boston a carbon-neutral city by 2050 and we want to thank Mayor
Janey, Councilor O'Malley, and Chief White-Hammond for their leadership on BERDO
2.0. We look forward to our continued work together to advance climate
solutions and sustainability citywide,” said Tom Yardley, Vice President of
Area Planning and Development, MASCO (Medical Academic and Scientific
Community Organization).
This ordinance
builds on Mayor Janey’s work to create a climate-ready, resilient Boston.
Mayor Janey’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes significant investments for
environmental justice and resilience, 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.
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