►
Description
Mayor Walsh is committed to having an administration that is accountable to all residents, no matter who you are or where you live. Commissioners Corner introduces you to your city leaders, who will showcase their agencies and discuss information that is important to everyone in this great city. Host, Najya Mawasi, is joined by Austin Blackmon, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space, to discuss how climate change affects the City of Boston. They also talk about Greenovate Boston's goal to eliminate carbon emissions and teach residents how they can help fight climate change and save money at the same time.
A
Scientific
evidence
has
proven
climate
change
is
an
imminent
threat
to
us
all.
We
can
prepare
for
a
healthier
and
safer
future
if
we
understand
how
it
affects
us
now.
Mayor
Marty
Walsh
recently
took
a
bold
stand
for
climate
change
preparedness
after
the
White
House
announced
its
withdrawal
from
the
Paris
climate
agreement.
Let's
hear
what
the
mayor
had
to
say.
No
matter.
B
What
the
president
decides
I
want
to
make
it
absolutely
clear
that
the
White
House
and
our
partners
worldwide,
that
the
city
of
Boston
will
not
back
down
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
invest
in
clean
energy
and
create
jobs.
We're
going
to
continue
to
make
sure
our
air
and
water
is
cleaner
for
our
residents
and
we're
going
to
make
sure
that
our
city
in
our
country
continues
to
do
what
it
can
to
make
it
more
secure.
We
will
honor
these
responsibilities
to
our
children
to
our
planet
and
we
will
do
what
is
right.
A
Blackmun
chief
of
environment,
energy
in
open
space
is
here
to
help
us
all
understand
how
climate
change
affects
quality
of
life,
chief
Blackman,
oversees
policy
and
programs
on
energy,
climate
change,
sustainability,
building
safety,
historic
preservation
in
open
space,
including
climate
ready
Boston's.
Thank
you
so
much
chief
Austin
Blackmon
for
being
here
with
us
today.
First,
let's
talk
about
your
role
as
chief
environment,
energy
in
open
space.
What
are
your
responsibilities?
What
does
that
mean
right.
C
So
I'm
responsible
for
three
departments
at
City,
Hall
parks
and
recreation,
inspectional,
Services
and
the
environment
Department,
where
we
do
a
lot
of
our
work
on
climate
change,
energy
policy
and,
as
you
mentioned,
historic
preservation
and
conservation
Commission,
which
is
protecting
the
wetlands
in
the
city
of
Boston.
So
a
lot
of
that
entails.
How
do
we
make
sure
that
we
continue
to
have
Boston
being
a
thriving,
healthy
and
innovative
place
over
the
next
hundred
years,
regardless
of
what
the
impacts
of
climate
change
may
be?
Okay,.
A
C
And
why
should
we
care
well,
it's
very
basic.
Its
pollution
going
into
the
atmosphere
causing
the
globe
to
warm,
causing
melts
from
Antarctica
and
other
ice
sheets,
which
then
causes
sea
levels
to
rise,
can
also
cause
increase
in
severe
weather
that
we've
started
to
see
as
well,
and
that
can
actually
be
very,
very
damaging
to
a
city
like
Boston.
That
is
not
only
very
coastal,
but
it
was
also
built
on
quite
a
bit
of
fill.
C
So
if
you
look
at
the
back
bay
parts
of
downtown,
these
are
actually
places
where
our
predecessors
filled
in
the
harbor
and
made
it
just
high
enough
so
that
it
would
be
above
the
highest
of
high
tides,
but
over
the
past
hundred
years,
we've
already
seen
about
10
inches
worth
of
sea
level
rise,
and
so,
if
we
look
at
the
projections
moving
forward
now,
we've
got
a
serious
problem
that
we
have
to
address.
To
make
sure
that
Boston
can
continue
can
continue
to
thrive
despite
the
sea
levels.
Increasing.
Why.
A
C
So
carbon
dioxide
is
a
greenhouse
gas,
which
means
that
once
it's
emitted
into
the
atmosphere,
it
traps
heat
that
comes
from
the
Sun
and
instead
of
laying
that
go
back
out
through
our
atmosphere,
it's
trapped
inside
and
what
that
does.
Is
it
not
only
heats
our
oceans
but
also
our
lands?
It
causes
droughts.
It
puts
more
of
that
moisture
into
the
atmosphere.
It
gets
trapped
there
and
that's
what
causes
those
more
severe
storms.
So
you
have
these
periods
of
very,
very
intense
droughts,
followed
by
periods
of
very
intense
storms.
C
C
So
these
are
things
that
what
are
the
concentrations
that
we're
seeing
are
completely
different,
because
we've
started
to
use
these
fossil
based
fuels
because
start
to
use
these
chemicals
to
provide
refrigeration,
as
those
technologies
have
advanced
and
no
question.
Those
have
led
to
huge
advancements
for
humans
as
a
species.
It
allowed
us
to
electrify
our
homes.
It
allowed
us
to
have
transportation,
but
that.
C
A
great
question
I
think
that
there's
some
evidence
that
people
have
known
for
quite
a
long
time
back
to
the
70s.
Some
people
would
point
even
farther
back
than
that.
The
research
has
been
ongoing
for
quite
some
time,
but
obviously
it's
really
come
to
the
forefront
more
recently,
whether
it's
the
climate
Accords
that
you
saw
in
Paris
or
even
climate
Accords
that
preceded
that
in
Copenhagen
and
other
cities
as
well.
C
And
agreed
on
how
to
come
to
a
climate
agreement,
there's
a
new
approach
that
the
United
Nations
and
the
US
and
other
nations
put
together
instead
of
having
a
top-down
approach
where
the
UN
would
say,
listen,
China,
you
need
to
reduce
emissions,
this
much
India.
You
need
to
reduce
it.
This
much
UK
u.s..
You
need
to
reduce
it
this
much
that
led
to
a
lot
of
infighting,
because
each
of
those
nations
would
say.
C
Well,
you
don't
really
understand
what
I'm
capable
of
doing
so
I'm
going
to
fight
you
and
I'm
going
to
say:
I
can
only
do
half
that
amount,
et
cetera,
etc.
What
the
Paris
agreement
did.
Is
it
flipped
that
on
its
head-
and
it
said,
okay,
nations
of
the
earth?
You
come
back
to
the
UN
and
you
tell
us
what
you
think
you
can
accomplish
and
then,
if
the
US
says
listen,
we
think
we
can
do
a
26
to
28
percent
reduction.
C
C
So
if
you
look
at
Mayor
Walsh's
climate
ready,
Boston
report
and
the
projections
that
we
have
in
that,
so
these
are
our
projections
on
sea-level
rise
right
here
in
Boston,
using
data
translating
that
into
financial
damage
estimates
so
by
the
end
of
the
century,
we're
projecting
that
eighty
five
billion
dollars
worth
of
assets
will
be
in
the
FEMA
flood
plain,
that's
a
staggering
number.
Why
is
that
linked
to
climate
change
and
reducing
emissions?
C
If
you
look
at
those
very
same
projections,
they
say
that
we
can
expect
between
two
and
a
half
and
seven
and
a
half
feet
of
sea-level
rise
in
Boston
Harbor
by
the
end
of
the
century.
Now
that's
a
pretty
big
difference.
The
reason
why
all
that
variation
is
there
is
not
because
the
calculations
are
strange
and
hard.
It's
because
we
don't
know
how
much
greenhouse
gases
are
going
to
be
emitted
between
now
and
then.
C
If
we
keep
going
down
the
path
that
we're
going
right
now,
then
it
could
be
very
easily
that's
seven
and
a
half
feet.
If
we
start
to
drastically
reduce
emissions,
then
it
might
only
be
those
two
and
a
half
feet,
but
we
rely
on
the
rest
of
the
world
in
order
to
make
those
reductions
and
that's
why
the
city
of
Boston,
working
with
cities
across
the
globe
is
so
important
because,
as
they
succeed
in
reducing
greenhouse
gas
emissions,
we
reap
the
benefits
of
that.
What's.
A
B
C
A
A
A
A
C
A
C
A
C
In
the
process
of
launching
some
work,
wind
in
partnership
with
Boston
University
to
help
us
understand
how
that
what
can
we
do
right
now
to
make
sure
that
Boston
will
be
a
carbon
neutral
city
by
2050,
which
is
our
current
goal?
So,
from
a
policy
perspective,
what
choices
can
we
make?
What
are
they're
going
to
be
the
most
cost
effective
ones?
What
are
the
ones
that
our
residents
and
businesses
are
going
to
be
find
most
acceptable?
So
that's
work
that
we're
doing
right
now
as
well.
Lastly,
we've
also
started
our
zero
waste
plan.
C
A
C
B
A
C
We
certainly
are
an
innovator.
We
are
lucky
to
be
joined
by
a
handful
of
other
cities
around
the
globe
that
have
that
carbon
neutral
goal,
so
we're
part
of
another
group
organization
called
the
carbon
neutral
cities
Alliance.
Okay
and
again,
this
is
the
most
innovative
cities
that
have
put
a
stake
in
the
ground,
saying
we
will
be
carbon
neutral
by
2050,
and
so
we
have
certainly
innovated
by
having
being
one
of
the
first
cities
to
have
a
climate
action
plan
which
we've
already
updated.
C
At
this
point,
we
are
certainly
an
innovative
City
by
doing
this,
full
adaptation
analysis,
understanding
where
Boston
is
most
vulnerable
to
the
challenges
of
sea
level
rise
and
by
kicking
off
our
zero
waste
plan.
We
are
taking
steps
that
many
other
cities
have
taken
already
to
really
reduce
the
impact
of
their
economy
on
the
environment.
So.
C
As
projects
are
reviewed
by
the
Boston
Planning
development
agency,
particularly
the
largest
projects
in
the
city
of
Boston,
they're,
also
concurrently
reviewed
by
a
group-
it
works
in
the
Environment
Department.
So
they
have
to
demonstrate,
for
instance,
that
the
buildings
could
be
LEED
certifiable
and
we
go
through
a
process
with
the
developer
is
to
point
out
ways
that
they
could
make
the
buildings
more
energy-efficient,
how
they
could
get
additional
LEED
points,
make
the
building
more
sustainable,
improve
air
quality
in
them
for
the
people
that
are
going
to
be
inside
on
a
day
to
day
basis.
C
A
C
This
is
an
ordinance
that
requires
the
largest
buildings
in
the
city
of
Boston,
to
report,
their
energy
use
and
also
some
basic
information
on
the
building
as
well.
So
it
helps
us
understand
how
much
energy
is
this
using
per
square
foot,
regardless
of
whether
it's
heated
by
electricity,
natural
gas,
steam
or
otherwise?
And
what
that
helps
us
do
is
understand
what
are
the
most
efficient
buildings
in
the
city
of
Boston
and
which
are
the
least
efficient.
C
So
if
you
look
at
all
the
greenhouse
gases
that
are
emitted
from
the
city
of
Boston,
about
50%
of
them
come
from
large
buildings,
and
so
if
you
can
look
at
the
large
buildings
that
are
the
most
inefficient,
then
you
can
really
target
your
resources.
You
can
go
to
that
building
owner
and
you
can
say:
listen.
We
think
that
we
can
save
you
quite
a
bit
of
money
and
at
the
same
time
you
can
help
the
city
of
Boston.
A
C
Their
compliance
is
really
just
reporting
the
information
okay,
after
the
it
after
they've
reported
for
five
years,
they
do
have
to
demonstrate
that
they've
either
done
an
audit
of
their
building
or
a
15
percent
reduction
in
their
emissions.
But
we've
been
very,
very
fortunate
that
we've
had
extraordinarily
high
compliance
rates,
but
if
for
those
buildings
who
don't
comply,
then
there
are
valuations
and
fines
that
can
be
enacted
as
well.
Thank.
A
C
Innovate
Boston
is
our
platform
to
let
all
the
residents
and
businesses
of
Boston
know
how
they
can
make
our
city
a
more
sustainable
place
to
live
and
work,
so,
whether
that's,
what
we're
doing
on
our
zero
waste
plan
or
what
we're
doing
on
climate
ready
Boston
or
what
we're
doing
on
our
greenhouse
gas
reduction
efforts.
That's
the
platform
that
we
push
people
to,
and
we
actually
just
kicked
off
a
new
initiative
through
this
called
climate
ready,
Boston
leaders,
so
green
Aveda
is
leading
this.
C
What
that
is,
is
it's
a
program
that
will
take
the
presentation
that
I
give
on
climate
ready,
Boston
and
put
it
into
a
format
that
anyone
can
go
out
and
give
that
presentation.
So,
instead
of
your
friendly
bureaucrat
going
to
a
community
meeting
and
talking
about
sea-level
rise,
we're
training,
friends
and
family
to
go
train
and
talk
to
their
friends
and
family
about
how
sea
level
rise
and
climate
change
can
have
a
serious
consequence
here
in
the
city
of
all.
How.
C
A
A
C
A
C
We
want
to
make
sure
that
we
have
this
first
round
of
these
applications
that
come
in,
so
the
process
is
people
apply
and
they'll.
Give
us
a
plan
and
saying
hey:
I
would
love
to
give
this
presentation
to
my
house,
worship.
I.
Would
love
to
give
this
presentation
to
my
community
group
I.
Would
love
to
give
this
presentation
to
30
of
my
friends
at
a
dinner
party
that
I'm
going
to
be.
A
C
And
it
they
write
this
application
and
we
can
give
them
a
grant
of
up
to
$200,
so
whether
that's
for
childcare
for
that
presentation,
maybe
a
little
bit
of
food
whatever
it
is
to
make
it
easier
for
that
presentation
to
be
given
and
to
actually
be
absorbed,
and
it's
been
oversubscribed
so
far.
So
we're
really
really
happy
about
that.
We
want
to
see
how
successful
it
is
and
hopefully
we'll
be
able
to
expand
it
move.
A
C
C
A
C
C
C
Consequences
on
people's
health
as
well.
So
if
you
look
at
our
projections,
if
we
had
a
climate
like
that
here
in
Boston,
where
not
everybody
has
air-conditioner
we're
talking
about
major
major
consequences
from
a
health
perspective
for
those
who
have
illnesses
that
can
be
exacerbated
by
heat
weather,
that's
heart
disease,
along
with
employees
as
much
much
more
difficult
for
us
to
have
our
student-athletes
be
outside.
We
may
have
to
say:
listen!
C
You
can't
go
to
football
practice,
because
it's
too
Auto
you
can't
go
to
soccer
practice
because
it's
too
hot
out,
okay,
these
are
things
that
we
don't
want
to
have
to
say
to
our
residents
and
businesses
and
that's
why
it's
so
important
that
we
start
taking
these
steps
to
counteract
this
right
now
there
are
things
that
we
can
do
right
now
in
the
city
of
Boston
to
prevent
that
from
happening,
but
that's
the
track
that
we're
on
right
now.
So.
C
A
certain
amount
that
we
will
have
to
adapt
to
there's
a
certain
amount
that
has
already
been
emitted
into
the
atmosphere
and
a
certain
amount
of
sea
level
rise
is
already
going
to
happen.
The
most
severe
consequences
are
things
that
are
still
very
preventable.
It
will
take
enormous
action
not
only
from
the
city
of
Boston,
but
from
cities
and
governments
all
across
the
globe
and
businesses
to
start
reducing
greenhouse
gas
emissions
while
still
allowing
their
businesses
or
other
organizations
to
thrive.
B
C
Places
even
in
the
u.s.
when
energy
is
becoming
more
cost
competitive
than
coal
or
natural
gas
you're,
starting
to
also
see
the
ability
for
these
industries
to
create
jobs
in
the
u.s.
over
the
past
year,
the
fastest
growing
sector,
the
fastest
growing
job
in
the
US,
was
wind
energy
technician.
And
so
that's
something
that
we
need
to
make
sure
that
we
train
our
motor.
C
C
That's
going
to
require
up
to
1600
megawatts
worth
of
offshore
wind
here
in
Massachusetts
and
a
big
part
of
the
reason
why
they're
doing
that
is
not
only
to
hit
the
goals
that
the
state
has
which
are
very
similar
to
ours
on
greenhouse
gas
emissions,
but
also
that's
going
to
create
a
lot
of
jobs
here
in
Massachusetts,
we've
seen
it
with
solar
as
well.
We've
got
tens
of
thousands
of
jobs
in
Massachusetts
that
are
in
that
industry,
let
alone
any
of
the
supporting
industries
as
well,
and
so
it's
a
really
great
story
from
that
end.
C
C
The
most
important
thing
is:
first,
just
getting
the
knowledge
out
there
in
terms
of
what
the
challenges
are
and
helping
people
understand
what
impacts
could
happen
on
their
lives
but,
more
importantly,
what
they
can
do
in
the
meantime
to
help
prevent
those
things
from
happening
and
then
get
people
just
on.
What
can
we
do
so
exactly
just
taking
the
small
steps?
So,
for
instance,
do
you
know
that
you
can
get
free,
LED
light
bulbs
from
nowhere.
A
C
An
organization
called
mash
save
it's
a
partner
of
Renu,
Boston,
okay,
and
that's
a
great
way
that
our
residents
here
in
Boston
can
save
money
on
their
electricity
bills.
So
that's
another
part
of
this.
It's
not
just
saying
I'll
do
this,
because
it's
the
right
thing
to
do.
It's
do
this,
because
you
can
actually
save
a
lot
of
money.
I
replace
all
the
light
bulbs
in
my
parents,
house,
they're
already
saving
between
2010
and
2011.
C
Take
some
other
small
steps,
whether
that's
just
adjusting
your
thermostat
a
couple
degrees
that
can
have
a
huge
impact
on
your
bills
as
well,
making
sure
that
you
adjust
your
thermostat
when
you
leave
the
house
when
you
come
back,
those
can
have
big
consequences
in
terms
of
how
much
energy
we
use
but
can
have
big
consequences
on
your
own
personal,
electric
or
natural
gas
bill.
Also,
and
as
part
of
some
of
those
audits
that
we
were
talking
about,
they
might
identify
some
other
things
that
can
that
could
make
your
house
more
energy
efficient.
C
A
A
C
A
C
C
A
Right.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
If
we
all
take
responsibility
to
understand
climate
change
in
how
it
actually
affects
us,
we
then
have
the
opportunity
to
make
corrective
change
for
a
better
tomorrow.
Green
of
a
Boston
is
the
city's
community-wide
initiative
to
engage
all
Bostonians
in
helping
the
city
meet
its
climate
and
sustainability
goals,
while
continuing
to
make
bossing
a
thriving,
healthy
and
innovative
city
visit
us
at
Green
of
a
Boston
org
ends
on
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at
Green,
Boston
and
Twitter
at
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of
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boss.