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(Boston Orange 綜合報導) 麻州交通廳 (MassDOT) 22日晚在網站上公佈，麻州地鐵總經理一職，2023年1月4日起，將由現任副總經理Jeffrey D. Gonneville代理。
星期四, 12月 22, 2022
Jeffrey D. Gonneville將出任麻州地鐵代理總經理
麻州地鐵現任總經理Steve Poftak已於11月遞出辭呈，預定2023年1月3日離職。
Jeffrey
D. Gonneville將在麻州候任州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 就任前一天走馬上任。
奚莉2天前才宣佈，已聘請獵頭公司面向全世界的搜尋適任人選，21日又親自到Revere市的麻州地鐵維修廠探望工作人員，負責管轄麻州地鐵的麻州交通廳，就由廳長Jamey
Tesler代表麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 指派麻州地鐵總經理的代理人選。
雖然有人質疑，查理貝克政府還有幾天就卸任了，為什麼麻州地鐵代理總經理這職位要由現任政府來指派。
奚莉日前回應道，現任政府目前仍在運作中，做指派決定也在情在理。她希望能在幾星期內就找到嫻熟交通事務的人來正式接任。
麻州交通廳在網站上以200多字，簡單介紹了Jeffrey D.
Gonneville的經歷，稱他曾任營運長 (COO) 2年，負責重軌、輕軌及巴士服務網，在位期間推動了數項計畫，增加了所有路線的準時出車程度。他也曾經擔任麻州交通廳的機械長。
2017年他升任副總經理，負責監管所有的營運，以及為巴士、輔助運輸、渡輪、輕重軌地鐵和通勤火車等部門提供相關支援。
Jeffrey
D. Gonneville是有1500個公私營會員組織的美國公營交通協會
(APTA)會員，以及前任董事。他也曾經擔任APTA巴士技術維修委員會，以及東北客運協會
(NEPTA)汽車維修委員會這2個委員會的主席。他還是交通合作研究項目(TCRP)成員。
他畢業於麻州大學Amherst分校，或有機械工程學士學位。
Jeffrey
D. Gonneville在麻州地鐵任20多年，這是第2次擔任代理總經理。第一次是在現任總經理Steve Poftak於2019年1月1日上任前代理該職，這次則是在Steve
Poftak卸任後，新任總經理就職前代理該職。
麻州候任州長Maura Healey訪視MBTA維修廠 關心地鐵維修及人力狀況
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| 麻州候任州長Maura Healey (右)、候任副州長Kim Driscoll (左)探訪麻州地鐵維修廠，給 工作人員打氣、賀節。 (周菊子攝) |
麻州地鐵是全美最古老的交通系統之一，從1834年以來，整併了數個公私交通系統而成，如今是全美第三、第四忙碌的交通系統，2019年時每天約有126萬人次搭乘，年度預算上看20億美元，營運項目包括紅線、橘線、藍線等3條重軌地鐵，綠線及Ashmont到Mattapan高速線這2條輕軌地鐵，共有171條路線的巴士，
以及銀線巴士，通勤火車、渡輪。
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| 麻州候任州長Maura Healey (右)稱，解決人手不足問題很重要。 (周菊子攝) |
2015年，查理貝克 (Charlie
Baker)接任麻州州長，遇上打破波士頓降雪量紀錄的大風雪，麻州地鐵部分路線被迫停駛了頗長的一段時間，促使查理貝克組成特別顧問團，當年7月新設了一個麻州地鐵財政和管理控制委員會。
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| 麻州地鐵工作人員趁機會和候任州長合影。 (周菊子攝) |
期間，聯邦交通管理局
(FTA) 在2022年6月公佈麻州地鐵安全檢查報告，要求麻州地鐵改善。其中一項稱麻州地鐵調派員
(dispatchers)一天工作超過20小時，明顯不符安全要求。
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| 麻州地鐵面對的問題還很多。 |
麻州地鐵在狀況頻生下，今年8月19日至9月19日，大膽地安排橘線地鐵停駛一個月，以期趕工完成5年的維修進度。麻州地鐵同時加碼給出簽約就給1萬元的獎勵，希望盡快招聘到更多調派員，以及相關工作人員，緩解人手短缺，必須縮減列車服務班次情況。
沒想到停駛一個月後，橘線地鐵仍然到站不準時，其他路線地鐵也依然有狀況，招聘員工的獎勵雖高，卻沒發揮功效，於是麻州地鐵又得宣佈，12月18日起，有十幾條路線巴士，將縮減服務班次。
麻州地鐵人力資源長Tom
Waye對外表示，聯邦交通管理局要求增聘15名調派員。目前他們已聘得年薪$103,667的地鐵調派員11人，還差4人就達成目標。麻州地鐵發言人Joe Pesaturo說，其中10人已於7月到9月間接受了重軌地鐵調派訓練，第11人從11月起接受訓練。麻州地鐵現在也規定調派員最多一天只能連續工作14小時，在2個班次之間，必須間隔10小時。加班時間也不可以超過24小時，或每週超過6天。
截至10月底，麻州地鐵共收到191份求職申請，其中只有40人符合最低要求，正陸續面試26人。
麻州地鐵原本有將近2000個職位空缺，截至9月底，還有943個職位沒找到人，但是以新聘202人，同時卻有198人或退休，或離職的情況來說，實際上，空缺名額只補了4個。
麻州候任州長奚莉日前透露，她願意考慮留一席麻州地鐵董事局席給波士頓市長，多快才能招聘的新任麻州地鐵總經理，得看搜尋進展，她個人當然希望越快越好。
AG HEALEY CO-LEADS COURT BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY IN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
AG HEALEY CO-LEADS COURT BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY IN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Brief Supports Philadelphia School District Against Challenge to its Race-Neutral Admissions Plan for the 2022-2023 School Year
BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro are co-leading a coalition of 20 attorneys general in support of the School District of Philadelphia against a challenge to its race-neutral admissions plan for four its selective high schools, which sought to reduce barriers to access for students of all geographic, social, and racial backgrounds.
The amicus brief – filed today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Sargent v. School District of Philadelphia – argues against the claim that Philadelphia intentionally discriminated against white and Asian-American applicants in revising its admissions plan for the 2022-2023 school year, and thereby violated the Equal Protection Clause. In its revised plan, Philadelphia eliminated standardized testing requirements for admission at the City’s “criteria-based” schools in favor of a race-neutral, lottery-based process for allocating seats to students whose academic achievements qualified them for admission. The plan included a built-in preference at four of the schools for academically qualified students from zip codes that had previously sent the lowest percentage of students to these schools.
The lower court refused to grant the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction blocking the policy change shortly before the school year began, and the case is now on appeal.
“In order to ensure students everywhere have equal and fair access to public education, we need to support policies that address inequities and remove barriers,” said AG Healey. “I am proud to lead this brief in support of efforts by schools to achieve equity in their admissions process.”
The attorneys general argue in the brief that longstanding Supreme Court and Third Circuit precedents reject the idea that race-neutral policies are subject to strict scrutiny simply because policymakers aimed in part to remove barriers to access that may disproportionately affect people of particular racial backgrounds—as well as various socioeconomic, geographic, or other backgrounds. The coalition argued that this theory would, if adopted, hinder state and local policymakers’ ability to ensure that government policies serve their residents equitably and effectively, as it would subject policymakers to strict scrutiny whenever they are aware of the potential demographic consequences of race-neutral policy choices and work to reduce inequities in policies’ impact across demographically identifiable groups. The coalition argued that acceptance of such a theory would have the potential to hinder effective policymaking in other realms beyond education, such as public health.
AG Healey has long advocated on behalf of students, working to break down barriers to access, advance equity, and increase student-body diversity within education. In September, AG Healey led a coalition of attorneys general in support of Boston Public Schools’ decision to revise its admissions plan for the 2021-2022 school year. In May, AG Healey led a coalition in support of a school board in Fairfax County, Virginia, that had implemented a new race-neutral high school admissions plan aiming to eliminate barriers to access and increase racial, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity at its flagship high school. And in August, AG Healey filed a brief at the U.S. Supreme Court in support of admissions policies seeking to foster diversity in higher education.
To read the full amicus brief, click here.
Handling the matter for Massachusetts are Ann Lynch and David Ureña, Assistant Attorneys General in the AG’s Civil Rights Division, and State Solicitor Bessie Dewar.
Joining AG Healey and AG Shapiro in today’s brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Denounces Congress’ Failure to Reach a DACA Deal
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Denounces Congress’ Failure to Reach a DACA Deal
Immigrant Youth Urgently Need Pathways to Citizenship
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the end of the year approaches, Congress has failed to come to a deal on citizenship for immigrant youth, Temporary Protected Status recipients, and other immigrants. While DACA hangs on by a thread, this failure further threatens the future of undocumented youth and their families in the country they call home.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five independent civil rights organizations, responds with the following statement:
“There is no excuse for lawmakers that oppose a pathway to citizenship. Most Americans believe that our nation needs to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Time and time again, federal lawmakers have talked about finding a permanent solution, but our communities continue to be left with growing uncertainties about their futures and the futures of their families. As a result of anti-immigrant lawmakers’ refusal to protect immigrant young people from detention and deportation, millions of undocumented youth in our communities, including over 600,000 active DACA recipients, remain without a solution as DACA slowly dies in the courts.
“Undocumented youth are valued members of our community. They are our family, our neighbors, our teachers, our caretakers, and more. We utterly reject the false narratives that anti-immigrant lawmakers have pushed to justify their inaction during this Congress, and we call on elected officials to create an immigration system that works for all of us – from immigrant youth and undocumented neighbors and families to people fleeing unimaginable violence. These communities are in need of Congress’ protections and a place to call home. They should not be used as political pawns.
“Alongside our undocumented families and friends, we refuse to end the fight here. We will demand relief for undocumented communities until we win. Congress must act swiftly next year to pass a pathway to citizenship before hundreds of thousands of immigrants lose protection from deportation and the ability to work.”
Governor Baker Nominates Acting Clerk Magistrate Rachel M. Hickey as Clerk Magistrate of the Ipswich District Court
Governor Baker Nominates Acting Clerk Magistrate Rachel M. Hickey as Clerk Magistrate of the Ipswich District Court
BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Acting Clerk Magistrate Rachel M. Hickey as Clerk Magistrate of the Ipswich District Court.
"With the addition of Attorney Hickey, Massachusetts will receive a well-qualified candidate for the judiciary,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am pleased to submit her nomination to the Governor’s Council.”
“Attorney Hickey possesses years of experience that make her a qualified candidate for the role of Clerk Magistrate,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.”
The District Court hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties; all misdemeanors; and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the Commonwealth.
For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.
Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.
About Rachel M. Hickey
Attorney Rachel M. Hickey began her legal career in 1995 as an assistant district attorney for the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. From 2001 to 2003, she served as Deputy General Counsel for the Executive Office of Public Safety and as Acting General Counsel for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. From 2005 to 2006, she worked as an attorney for the Law Offices of James M. Bowers. Since 2006, Attorney Hickey has served as Assistant Clerk Magistrate for the Newburyport and Ipswich District Court. In July 2019, she was appointed Acting Clerk Magistrate until March 2020 and held the position again from January 2021 to March 2021. From July 2022 to November 2022, Attorney Hickey served as Acting Clerk Magistrate of the Somerville District Court. Attorney Hickey received her associate’s degree from Bradford College in 1986, her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1988 and her juris doctor from Massachusetts School of Law in 1994.
查理貝克政府宣佈撥款一億元帶麻州實現零碳目標
Baker-Polito Administration Announces Over $100M Commitment to Clean Energy and Transportation
Funds From the MassDEP Will Advance Sustainable Programming
BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a series of funding totaling over $100 million to state entities for programs focused on climate readiness and reaching the Commonwealth’s 2030 and 2050 decarbonization goals. The funding will support the expansion of clean transportation programs, seed climate finance support mechanisms, and support anticipated decarbonization grant programs for low- and moderate-income housing.
“By providing these significant funds, we are better positioning the Commonwealth as it pursues a clean energy transition,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “After laying the groundwork with the 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan and the signing of landmark climate acts, we must continue to take meaningful action in order to create a lasting and sustainable Commonwealth.”
“This comprehensive support of clean energy solutions in transportation and our existing buildings will lead to a healthier and more sustainable future for the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Delivering the reliable benefits of clean energy to Massachusetts residents has been the impetus behind our decarbonization work, and I’m thrilled we can make this lasting investment.”
The primary source of this funding is through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) Climate Protection and Mitigation Expendable Trust, supplemented in part by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and other agency resources. Funds from the Trust will be allocated to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) for its clean transportation and climate finance work, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) for its planned Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Decarbonization Grant Program, and within the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for solid waste vehicle electrification grants.
“The funding commitment we are making today represents a significant step towards achieving our Commonwealth’s net zero by 2050 goals,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “These innovative programs will enable Massachusetts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with a focus on equity and public health across our critical energy, transportation, and building sectors.”
MassCEC is receiving funding to initiate a $22 million program for climate finance support and acceleration efforts. This pilot program can leverage private funding to expand access and availability of capital, focusing on decarbonization projects for existing buildings and reaching underserved communities. The agency is also receiving $24 million to support and expand upon its robust Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) initiatives, which launched in 2020. The agency will direct grants to:
- ACT Vehicles for Hire for infrastructure growth;
- ACT4All to support innovation and equity objectives;
- ACT e-bikes to provide wraparound service grants to community organizations;
- ACT School Bus for a second round of funding for technical assistance and infrastructure grants; and,
- EV Consumer Support webpage to provide EV purchasing guidance.
Additionally, MassCEC’s ACT School Bus Program, which provides both technical advisory services and funding for a public school district to begin electrifying its school bus fleet, is awarding over $9 million as part of its first round of ACT School Bus Deployment funding to the following entities:
- Lawrence Public Schools for $1,675,000;
- Quincy Public Schools for $355,000;
- Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative for $2,000,000;
- New Bedford Public Schools for $1,970,000;
- Fall River Public Schools for $2,000,000; and,
- Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School for $1,480,490.
“Through clean transportation programs, the Baker-Polito Administration is further supporting community partnerships and program models that provide solutions to the education, income, and geographic barriers within the clean transportation market,” said MassCEC CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “The additional funding for MassCEC’s climate finance work will enable the agency to explore how finance tools can facilitate building decarbonization.”
Furthermore, DOER plans to commit up to $50 million in funding for a Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Decarbonization Grant Program. The program is anticipated to support energy efficiency and clean energy investments in low- and moderate-income housing by providing grant funding for decarbonization retrofits. Health benefits for residents of retrofitted buildings include indoor air quality improvements, improved comfort, and local air pollution reduction. The program is expected to improve housing stock for low- or moderate-income residents, including through cleaner and more efficient heating and hot water systems and a more efficient building envelope. The Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Decarbonization Grant Program is anticipated to provide significant investments in the building sector and will leverage Mass Save programs, including a new program being launched this month as part of the 2022-2024 Energy Efficiency Plan to provide incentives for affordable housing deep energy retrofits through Mass Save. Decarbonization of Massachusetts’ existing buildings is a critical component of the Commonwealth’s strategy to achieve a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 and Net Zero by 2050.
“The Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Decarbonization Grant Program will expand on Massachusetts’ progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings sector and provide energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs in a way that is affordable and equitable,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “In addition to reducing energy bills and improving public health, these investments will collectively reduce our vulnerability to high energy pricing and the Commonwealth’s total demand of expensive imported fossil fuels.”
MassDEP will also utilize $4 million for a grant program to support the electrification of Solid Waste Collection Vehicles, including waste collection and recycling trucks operating in Massachusetts communities. This funding will facilitate the ongoing municipal transition to fleet electrification. Replacing older diesel vehicles with new electric vehicles will deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution and public health benefits. MassDEP will issue a project solicitation in early 2023 to begin the grant program.
“The scope and breadth of this funding supports innovation in a number of sectors,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “The Solid Waste grant program we are announcing today will jumpstart replacement of older, often diesel-fueled waste collection trucks with cleaner, more efficient electric and hybrid vehicles helping to fight climate change and improve air quality in our communities.”
Including this funding, the Baker-Polito Administration has recently taken significant steps to support and advance major clean energy and climate readiness initiatives. This includes the release of the 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan, which provides the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a comprehensive plan to achieve the Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions limit; the creation of a publicly available web-based Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Dashboard to provide key performance indicators relevant to the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plans; the awarding of $180 million in funding through the Offshore Wind Ports Infrastructure Investment Challenge to improve and develop port infrastructure at three key harbors along the Massachusetts coast; and the release of the “MA Climate Change Assessment,” which is the first statewide assessment detailing how Massachusetts people, environments, and infrastructure may be affected by climate change and related hazards through the end of the century.
MassDEP’s Climate Protection and Mitigation Expendable Trust was created in 2018 to support programs and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Proceeds are generated by auction from the in-state cap on emissions from electricity-generating facilities and alternative compliance payments under the Clean Energy Standard (CES).
“I’m proud of the work done in the Legislature to support these projects, as they are vital in our efforts to making clean energy more affordable, electrify our transportation sector, and meet the Commonwealth’s important climate goals,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank my colleagues in the House, and our partners in the Senate and in the Administration, for their shared commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a better Massachusetts in the process.”
“Governments must act internationally, nationally, and locally to address the ever-increasing threat of climate change. The environmental bill that the Legislature passed this session, along with today’s announcement of state and federal funding will, I hope, effect meaningful changes in Quincy and throughout the Commonwealth,” said State Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy). “Even as we celebrate this commitment today, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the next legislative session to do more to protect current and future generations from the impacts of climate change.”
“Investing in clean and sustainable energy has been a cornerstone of the legislature’s efforts, especially with the passage of the 2050 Road Map,” said State Representative Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “I’m pleased to see the administration’s commitment to these important initiatives, particularly with the support given to the Quincy Public Schools.”
“Massachusetts continues to prioritize both its infrastructure development and climate preparedness,” said State Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “I am thrilled that Quincy Public Schools will receive funding to begin electrifying its school bus fleet. This is one of the many ways we are moving towards decarbonization. We are also investing in reducing emissions in our low- and moderate-income housing to improve the quality of living for our residents while also supporting clean energy alternatives.”
AG HEALEY SECURES $975,000 FROM MORTGAGE COMPANY OVER ALLEGATIONS OF UNLAWFUL MORTGAGE SERVICING AND DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES
AG HEALEY SECURES $975,000 FROM MORTGAGE COMPANY OVER ALLEGATIONS OF UNLAWFUL MORTGAGE SERVICING AND DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES
Settlement Resolves Allegations that RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation Violated State Consumer Protection and Debt Collection Laws and Regulations
BOSTON – A South Carolina mortgage servicing company will pay $975,000 and change its business
practices to resolve allegations that the company failed to make required efforts to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and engaged in other unfair debt collection and mortgage servicing practices, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
The assurance of discontinuance, filed today in Suffolk
Superior Court, alleges that RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation violated
the Massachusetts Act Preventing Unlawful and Unnecessary
Foreclosures, codified as “Section 35B”, which requires mortgage servicers to make a
good faith effort to help borrowers with certain unfair loan terms avoid
foreclosure. The settlement also alleges that RoundPoint violated the Attorney General’s Debt Collection Regulations by failing
to timely issue compliant debt validation notices, and calling borrowers more
frequently than is legally allowed.
“Homeowners need to be able to count on mortgage companies to provide them with
accurate information and take required steps to help prevent foreclosures,”
said AG Healey. “Our office is committed to protecting consumers and helping
people stay in their homes.”
The AG’s Office alleges that RoundPoint failed, among other
things, to conduct necessary analysis under Section 35B by failing to properly
assess borrowers’ income, debts and obligations when reviewing for affordable
loan modifications, and as such also failed to provide the results of these
assessments to borrowers. RoundPoint further failed to provide borrowers with
notice of their right to present a counteroffer after being offered a loan
modification.
The settlement includes additional allegations that RoundPoint
frequently violated the AG’s Debt Collection Regulations, which specify that creditors
cannot call more than twice in a seven-day period, and must, within five days
of an initial debt collection communication, provide borrowers with notice and
opportunity to validate the amount of the debt. RoundPoint harassed borrowers
with excessive calls, and failed in thousands of instances to send timely debt
validation notices.
In addition to paying $975,000 to the state, RoundPoint will
make significant business practice changes and provide ongoing reporting to the
AG’s Office to ensure compliance with Massachusetts law and better assist
struggling borrowers.
AG Healey has consistently been an advocate for homeowners
and sought to ensure that mortgage servicers and other creditors respect the
rights of homeowners under state law. The AG’s Office has been a national
leader in securing restitution and other relief for borrowers from banks and
servicers, including Ditech, PHH, Nationstar, HSBC, Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, Caliber Home Loans, Bayview, Seterus, Fay Servicing, and others on behalf of Massachusetts
homeowners.
Baker-Polito Administration Releases “MA Climate Change Assessment”
Baker-Polito Administration Releases “MA Climate Change Assessment”
Report Identifies Climate Change Impacts on MA, and Will Inform 2023 State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Strategy
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration, through the Executive Office of Energy and Environment Affairs (EEA), today released the “MA Climate Change Assessment,” the first statewide assessment detailing how Massachusetts people, environments, and infrastructure may be affected by climate change and related hazards through the end of the century. This assessment will directly inform the first five-year update to the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP) that will be released in Fall 2023. Importantly, it evaluates 37 climate impacts across five sectors: Human, Infrastructure, Natural Environment, Governance, and Economy; and seven regions of the Commonwealth.
“Massachusetts continues to take a leadership role in climate action, and this assessment serves as another important tool that will guide the state as we improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud of our continued partnership with communities as we work together to build a more resilient Commonwealth utilizing updated and improved climate change information that is easily accessible.”
“Central to our Administration’s ongoing efforts to address climate change is implementing strategic, comprehensive, and data-driven climate action to make the Commonwealth a more resilient place to work and live,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Across state government, we continue to be focused on meeting the state’s ambitious decarbonization goals while we work together to understand and prepare for projected climate impacts.”
For each of the 37 climate impacts analyzed within the MA Climate Change Assessment, the report answers the following questions:
- How large of an impact does the Commonwealth expect from projected climate hazards on communities, the natural environment, and built infrastructure assets?
- Does the Commonwealth expect populations living in environmental justice communities to be affected more than the rest of the population?
- Is the Commonwealth currently doing enough to adapt to these impacts, and how soon is action needed?
“The MA Climate Change Assessment provides the Commonwealth with a data-driven roadmap of the climate impacts that will affect Massachusetts communities, which also identifies where urgent action is needed most,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “The Assessment serves as a critical guiding resource across the state as we work collectively with municipalities and other key stakeholders to reduce risk and build resilience.”
The MA Climate Change Assessment draws on the best available climate and impact assessment science, active stakeholder engagement, and broad state agency perspectives and was developed over the last year with state agency staff, local and federal government partners, an expert climate science panel, non-profit and community group representatives, and the public. The report establishes a priority for 16 climate impacts that were determined to be of the highest urgency in the Commonwealth, representing the top three ranked impacts in each of the five sectors and four within the Natural Environment sector. The project consultant team was led by Industrial Economics and included Eastern Research Group, Consensus Building Institute, and Woods Hole Group, in addition to independent subject matter experts from Massachusetts-based universities.
“The State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for the Commonwealth is the first of its kind to comprehensively integrate climate change impacts and adaptation strategies with hazard mitigation planning,” said Acting MEMA Director Dawn Brantley. “The integration of the MA Climate Assessment into the 2023 SHMCAP Update represents Massachusetts’ continued nationwide leadership in ensuring the best available climate science is guiding our cross-government hazard mitigation planning and action across all nine Secretariats.”
The findings of this report will directly inform the 2023 update to the SHMCAP, the Commonwealth’s strategic plan for hazard mitigation and climate risk reduction action. The 2023 update is underway and includes a stakeholder engagement process launching next year to inform the statewide action strategy.
Since coming into office, the Baker-Polito Administration has worked across agencies and communities to better understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change and has invested over $1 billion in climate initiatives through EEA and its agencies in order to implement mitigation and adaptation efforts. Efforts include the creation of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, which has engaged 97% of the Commonwealth’s communities in climate change planning and action and has awarded over $100 million since 2017; the Coastal Resilience Grant Program, which is open to the 78 municipalities located within the Massachusetts coastal zone and has awarded $23 million; the Commonwealth’s inter-agency Resilient MA Action Team (RMAT), which launched a climate resilience design standards online tool to facilitate the application of statewide climate data to the planning and design of capital projects; and the creation and enhancement of the Resilient MA Climate Change Clearinghouse website, which now features updated precipitation and temperature climate projections for the Commonwealth.
For more information on the MA Climate Change Assessment, please visit the report’s webpage.
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