Cambridge has been working for decades to address climate change and build a more sustainable, resilient community. Explore the plans, policies, programs, and partnerships that have shaped that work over time, along with supporting documents, plans, and other historical material.
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The landmark federal Clean Water Act strengthens protections for waterways and increases requirements for wastewater management. The same year, the new Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) requires state agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of major projects and creates new opportunities for public review.
In Cambridge, these new laws result in an increased focus on stormwater runoff and polluted former industrial sites along the Charles River and in Kendall Square. For more on Cambridge's industrial history, visit The Rise of Industry in East Cambridge and The Downside of Progress from HistoryCambridge.
The Cambridge Department of Public Works begins mapping the City's sewer infrastructure and creates the sewer and drain facilities program, laying the foundation for future efforts to reduce flooding and combined sewer overflows.
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Boston's downtown parking freeze and the planning of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, also known as the Big Dig, raise concerns in Cambridge about traffic, air quality, and neighborhood impacts.
That leads to the creation of the City's first dedicated environmental office — the Cambridge Environment Program. The program would become part of the Community Development Department's Environmental and Transportation Planning division.
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In 1992, the City adopts the Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance. It aims to reduce vehicle trips, vehicle miles traveled, and associated emissions — particularly from single-occupancy vehicles — to offset new commercial parking capacity and support clean air goals under the Clean Air Act.
The City also responds to environmental health concerns raised by residents and public health professionals, including lead paint in older housing, pollution from past industrial activity, and pesticide use in parks and playgrounds.
In 1993, Cambridge publishes "Towards a Sustainable Future," bringing together policies that had previously been spread across neighborhood plans and other City initiatives. The document served as the City's comprehensive plan, providing a Citywide framework for guiding growth, land use, open space, housing, transportation, and other priorities.
Related Resources
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As former industrial sites along the Charles River and in areas like Kendall Square are redeveloped, the City seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection and community health. Concerns about contamination, asbestos, and polluted land shape Cambridge’s approach to redevelopment.
Cambridge hires a second environmental planner, John Bolduc, with a broader sustainable development mandate to balance growth with environmental impacts, community needs, and long-term quality of life.
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Cambridge joins the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), which supplies a proven framework for measuring and decreasing carbon emissions. Cambridge prepares for its first greenhouse gas inventory.
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Cambridge completes its first greenhouse gas inventory. It shows that buildings are the largest source of emissions in Cambridge.
The finding was not unexpected, but seeing the numbers helped clarify the scale of the challenge. Transportation and waste emissions remained an important focus, but the inventory showed that reducing energy use in buildings would be essential to lowering emissions.
The City Council passes a resolution committing Cambridge to a formal process for addressing climate change as part of ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. The City forms a Climate Protection Task Force of residents and City, business, and institutional staff to develop recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. -
Cambridge’s first greenhouse gas inventory shows that buildings are the City’s largest source of emissions. Although transportation and waste emissions remain an important focus, the inventory focuses City actions on reducing energy use in buildings.
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The Climate Protection Task Force releases Cambridge’s first Climate Protection Plan. It focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010 through voluntary actions. The Task Force also recommends creating a permanent Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC).
New construction and major renovations of City buildings are now required to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) criteria.
Related Resources
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The Cambridge City Manager appoints a 24-member Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) to advise the City and track annual progress toward Climate Protection Plan goals.
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Cambridge convenes an Energy Management Work Group to identify and implement energy efficiency measures in municipal facilities.
New maps created by researchers at Tufts University reveal what sea level rise could mean for Cambridge, including the neighborhoods, roads, and infrastructure potentially at risk.
Related Resources
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Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans and communities along the Gulf Coast, drawing national attention to the risks cities face from extreme weather and flooding.
Cambridge signs the U.S. Mayors Climate Agreement, begins converting traffic signals to LEDs, and issues the Energy Star Purchasing Policy, requiring all departments to purchase Energy Star rated office equipment. The City Council issues a policy order setting the goal that 20% of municipal power come from renewable sources. The City Hall Annex, built in 1871, becomes the first municipal building in Massachusetts to achieve LEED certification.
The City expands programs like Business Climate Leaders, recognizing businesses taking energy-saving and sustainability actions. The Green Cambridge Awards highlights organizations and community members leading local climate efforts.
Related Resources
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Cambridge completes its first baseline municipal greenhouse gas inventory and requires new municipal vehicles to consider fuel economy and emissions (“Green Fleet” vehicle acquisition), guided by the new Green Fleet Committee.
The City launches composting for restaurants and institutions and provides voluntary programs such as the Home & Energy Fair and Cambridge Climate Leaders to help residents and businesses reduce energy use.
Related Resources
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The City officially launches the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) in partnership with the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, at an event attended by Governor Deval Patrick. Envisioned as a $100 million initiative, the nonprofit aimed to help property owners invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through innovative financing. The goal was to make reducing building emissions both environmentally and financially attractive. The CEA was one of the first efforts in the country to address building emissions at a community scale.
New research by the Union of Concerned Scientists increases understanding of how sea level rise, heavier rainfall, and extreme heat could affect Cambridge. Members of the Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) begin discussing the need to prepare for climate impacts in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Related Resources
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The Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) concludes that the City's existing approach will not achieve emissions reduction goals and recommends four priorities: improving building energy performance, strengthening community engagement, better measuring progress, and reducing transportation emissions. For the first time CPAC identifies climate adaptation as an area requiring future attention.
Cambridge becomes one of Massachusetts’s first Green Communities, committing the City to reduce municipal energy use by 20 percent in five years. The City is one of the first municipalities to adopt the state’s original Energy Stretch Code. City Staff and the Cambridge Green Building/Zoning Task Force publish recommendations for the City’s Green Building policy.
Community activists and City Councillors convene a Climate Emergency Congress in response to the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Summit to brainstorm local solutions to climate change.
Related Resources
- Climate Protection Plan: Climate Adaptation Interim Recommendations
- Climate Protection Action Committee
- Green Building/Zoning Task Force Recommendations
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A July cloudburst drops over 3.5 inches of rain in an hour, flooding streets, homes, and businesses especially in The Port, Central Square, and Alewife. The City Manager approves a proposal to conduct one of the first municipal climate vulnerability assessments in the US, focused on rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, and sea level rise.
Cambridge expands its energy conservation programs and requirements, including Green Building Requirements for large new developments and major renovations, a City Lighting Study, a municipal Energy Reduction Plan, single stream recycling, and a $12 surcharge per resident parking permit to provide funding for energy efficiency projects. Cambridge hires its first full-time Energy and Sustainability Analyst.
Related Resources
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The 2011 update to the Climate Protection Plan outlines progress on emissions reduction strategies. The non-profit Cambridge Energy Alliance is folded into the City’s Community Development Department.
Related Resources
- Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- 2011 Cambridge Climate Action Status Report
- Press Release: Cambridge Energy Alliance becomes part of City’s Community Development Department
- Climate Protection Action Committee
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Hurricane Sandy brings widespread flooding and storm damage to communities across the East Coast, including New York City. The storm serves as a dramatic example of the risks coastal communities face from flooding and extreme weather.
Cambridge launches its Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and completes its first five-year municipal greenhouse gas inventory. CPAC provides recommendations for the vulnerability assessment. Cambridge’s first urban forest assessment finds that much of Cambridge’s tree canopy is located on private property.
Related Resources
- Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
- Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Kick-Off Meeting for the Technical Advisory Committee & Expert Advisory Panel
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- Recommendations for Adaptations to Climate Change
- Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2008-2012 Final Report
- 2012 Verification Report
- Urban Forest Canopy Assessment
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Cambridge, Harvard University, MIT, and local businesses create the Cambridge Community Compact for a Sustainable Future to increase collaboration on climate and sustainability, and the Kendall Square EcoDistrict, to decrease carbon emissions where more than 50% of them occur. These initiatives lasted until about 2019.
Early modeling for the Climate Vulnerability Assessment highlights the need for regional coordination. Cambridge joins ICLEI’s Resilient Communities for America. The City creates the Getting to Net Zero Task Force, charged with developing recommendations for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Resident advocacy increases. CPAC recommends Municipal Building Energy Efficiency & GHG Reduction, Climate Change in the Public School Curriculum, and a Proposed Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance. Green Cambridge holds a City Council candidate forum where residents ask for support for a building energy benchmarking requirement.
Related Resources
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
- January Agenda
- April Presentation and Notes
- July Project Update
- December Agenda and Notes
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- Recommendation: Municipal Building Energy Efficiency & GHG Reduction
- Recommendation: Climate Change in the Public School Curriculum
- Recommendation on Proposed Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance
- Cambridge Community Compact for a Sustainable Future Agreement
- Press Release: Cambridge Mayor Henrietta Davis Joins 45 Mayors and County Leaders Nationwide in Pledge to Create More Resilient Cities
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
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Cambridge adopts the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO), requiring large commercial buildings (25,000 square feet+) and large (50 units+) multifamily residential properties to report annual energy and water use data to the City. Reporting is mandatory, while energy and water conservation are voluntary.
Related Resources
- Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
- January Agenda and Notes
- Additional Information: Flood Risk
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- August Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- November Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- December Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
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Cambridge releases the first part of its Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA). The assessment included projections and maps showing where climate risks could be concentrated.
The Getting to Net Zero Task Force releases the Net Zero Action Plan, establishing a roadmap for eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment by 2050.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes Cambridge with the Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award.Related Resources
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
- March Agenda, Presentation, Summary
- December Presentation
- Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report: Part 1
- Technical Report: Climate Projections and Scenario
- Appendix A - Heat Island and Flooding Maps
- Appendix B - Temperature & Precipitation Projections
- Appendix C - Historic Rainfall Events
- Appendix D - Urban Heat Island Protocol for Mapping Temperature Projections
- Technical Report: Critical Assets and Community Resources
- Appendix A-Critical Assets and Com Resources Maps
- Technical Report: Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
- Ranking Reports Critical Assets and Resources
- Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Urban Forest in Cambridge
- Vulnerable Population Ranking Memorandum
- Public Health Assessment
- Economic Vulnerability Assessment
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Minutes (Agenda unavailable)
- No meeting in February
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- Solar Energy Recommendations
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation Recommendation
- Net Zero Action Plan
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
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Cambridge’s 2015 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan establishes a framework for coordinating resilience efforts across City government. Cambridge releases its municipal GHG emissions for 2016 and develops Community-wide GHG Inventory and Forecasting Methodologies to better understand where non-municipal emissions are coming from and how different policies could affect future emissions.
Related Resources
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda (Meeting cancelled - no minutes)
- Community Choice Electricity Aggregation Draft Plan
- Community-wide GHG Inventory and Forecasting Methodologies Technical Memorandum
- Hazard Mitigation Plan 2015 Update
- Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory
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Climate Protection Action Committee
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Cambridge releases the second part of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA), focusing on vulnerabilities from sea level rise and coastal storm surge. The report provides a more detailed understanding of how future flooding could affect Cambridge.
Building on the CCVA findings, Cambridge developes the Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience Plan (CCPR) for the Alewife area, one of the City’s most flood-vulnerable neighborhoods. The plan identifies strategies to reduce flooding risks, improve public spaces, expand green infrastructure, and prepare the neighborhood for future climate impacts.
Cambridge launches Cambridge Community Electricity, the City’s municipal electricity aggregation program. The program allowes residents and businesses to purchase electricity through a Citywide program with increased renewable energy content. By using the City’s collective purchasing power, Cambridge created a new way to expand access to cleaner electricity and support its climate goals.
Cambridge completes its second Urban Forest Canopy Assessment using 2014 LiDAR data. The assessment found that tree canopy covered approximately 28% of Cambridge and showed that overall canopy declined between 2009 and 2014 due to factors including tree removal, development, storm damage, and disease. The findings helped identify opportunities to protect and expand trees across the City.Cambridge releases its Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Part II, integrating the new hydrodynamic Boston Harbor Flood Risk Model with updated precipitation models incorporating river flooding and the stormwater system. The assessment identifies Alewife, The Port, and East Cambridge as most at risk from flooding.
Related Resources
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report: Part 2
- Technical Report - Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storm Surge Projections
- Technical Report - Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storm Surge Vulnerability Assessment
- The Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report: Part 2 : Revisions
- Fig. 4 Priority Planning Areas map
- Revision to Fig.10 Inland flooding -100 year 24-hour storm
- Revision to Fig. 13 Inland flooding – 10-year 24-hour storm
- Fig.21 Most at-Risk Infrastructure Legend
- Fig.27 Community Resources Priority Areas Legend
- Technical Report: Climate Projections and Scenario Development - Appendix A revised flooding maps
- Cambridge Alewife Area Climate Change Flood Risk Illustrations
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Climate Change Preparedness & Resilience Plan (CCPR) Alewife
- Public Meeting April 12, 2017 Presentation
- Meeting Summary Report
- Climate Change Preparedness & Resilience Plan - Alewife CCPR
- CCPR Alewife Preparedness Handbook
- CCPR Appendix A: Evaluation of Upstream Flux in the Mystic River & Alewife Brook
- CCPR Alewife Appendix B: Green Infrastructure Analysis & Urban Heat Island Modeling
- CCPR Alewife Appendix C: Local Perceptions of Disaster Preparedness in the Alewife District of Cambridge, MA
- CCPR Alewife Plan Public Feedback Report
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report
- Municipal Electricity Aggregation Plan
- Second Urban Forest Canopy Assessment
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report: Part 2
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Cambridge updates its Climate Action Plan as part of its commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. The updated plan outlines strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the community and reaffirmed Cambridge’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
Cambridge commissions the Low Carbon Energy Supply Strategy to evaluate current and future energy demand and assess opportunities for expanding clean energy systems.
Massachusetts designates Cambridge as a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) community, recognizing the City’s work to understand climate risks and making it eligible for state funding to implement resilience projects.
With its first MVP grant, Cambridge begins evaluating the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, War Memorial Recreation Center, and Public Library complex as potential emergency community shelter space and exploring ways to make the facilities more resilient.
The City begins working with community organizations to develop plans for resilience hubs and create climate preparedness resources for renters, small residential property owners, small businesses, and other organizations.
Cambridge co-founds the Resilient Mystic Collaborative to work with other communities and non-profits on regional flood, heat, and social resilience.
Related Resources
- Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future 2017 Annual Report
- Climate Action Plan June 2018 Update
- Climate Change Preparedness & Resilience Plan (CCPR) Alewife November 30, 2018 Public Workshop Boards
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- No meeting in September
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- CPAC BULLETIN January 2018
- CPAC BULLETIN February 2018
- CPAC BULLETIN March 2018
- Low Carbon Energy Supply Strategy
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Cambridge begins a new climate resilience planning process for The Port neighborhood. Residents, businesses, and City staff work together to identify strategies for reducing flood risks, improving public spaces, strengthening energy resilience, and preparing for extreme heat and other climate impacts.
The Department of Public Works releases its Ten-Year Sewer and Drain Infrastructure Plan, outlining investments to improve stormwater management, reduce flooding, and modernize Cambridge’s aging drainage system.
The City begins evaluating how to build on the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO). After several years of collecting energy benchmarking data from large buildings, Cambridge commissionea an analysis to explore how building performance requirements and comprehensive retrofit programs could accelerate emissions reductions.
Cambridge updates its Green Building Requirements, continuing to strengthen sustainability standards for new development and major renovations.
Related Resources
- BEUDO Analysis: Comprehensive Retrofit Program Design
- Climate Change Preparedness & Resilience Plan (CCPR) - The Port
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- DPW Ten Year Sewer and Drain Infrastructure Plan April 2019
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Cambridge publishes a five-year review of the Net Zero Action Plan, recommending changes to accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral buildings.
The City’s Fiscal Year 2020 Net Zero Action Plan Annual Report highlights progress on several initiatives, including the creation of a Building Energy Retrofit Program to support comprehensive energy retrofits in large buildings, amendments to the City’s Green Building Requirements, and continued work on clean energy programs.
The City launches Community Solar to lower costs and provide clean energy to income qualified residents.
The Envision Cambridge Climate and Environment Plan connects greenhouse gas reduction and climate resilience with decisions about housing, transportation, land use, economic development, and neighborhood planning.
Cambridge becomes the first city in the US to require climate warning labels on gasoline pumps. The labels inform drivers that burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change and associated public health impacts.
Related Resources
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- Goals and Objectives for 2020
- January Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- No meetings April-August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Minutes (Agenda unavailable)
- December Minutes (Agenda unavailable)
- Note: CPAC meetings were disrupted in 2020 due to COVID-19
- Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Review Task Force
- Meeting 1: Slides, Notes and Recording
- Meeting 2: Slides, Notes and Recording
- Additional reading: NZAP Impact Report
- Net Zero Action Plan Annual Progress Report
- Envision Cambridge Climate and Environment Plan
- Policy Order: Fuel pump warning labels
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Climate Protection Action Committee
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Cambridge releases Resilient Cambridge, the City's first comprehensive climate change preparedness and resilience plan. The plan brings together findings from the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and neighborhood resiliency plans for Alewife and The Port.
The City completes a five-year review of the Net Zero Action Plan, incorporating advances in climate science, new technology, and better understanding of equity into recommendations for future climate policy,
Staff recommend to the City Council that the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) be amended to require large buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time.
Related Resources
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- October Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- November Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- December Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Review Task Force
- Meeting 3: Slides and Recording
- Additional reading: Science, Technology, and Policy Context slides
- NZAP Action Status Summary 2020 slides
- Meeting 4: Slides and Recording
- Meeting 5: Slides and Recording
- Resilient Cambridge
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Climate Protection Action Committee
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The Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force publishes its final report and sends it to the City Council for consideration.
The Cambridge City Council sends a petition to the state asking for the ability to enact fossil fuel-free requirements for new buildings and major renovations, to meet Net Zero Action Plan priorities.
Massachusetts passes An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, creating the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Demonstration Program. As part of that program, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) created regulations and a suggested ordinance that imposed fossil fuel-free requirements for new buildings and major renovations.
Cambridge was selected as one of the ten communities for this program.Cambridge’s second Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, covering 2012 to 2019, shows little impact from voluntary reduction strategies.
The City joins Somerville and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority in kicking off the revised Combined Sewer Overflow Control plan for the Mystic and Charles Rivers.
Related Resources
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Climate Protection Action Committee
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force
- Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plan Update: Public Meeting No. 1 Presentation
- Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
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Climate Protection Action Committee
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Cambridge adopts amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO), transforming the policy from a building energy reporting requirement into a tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The amendments require large non-residential buildings to reduce emissions in stages, with the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The City adopts the Massachusetts Specialized Stretch Energy Code, requiring new construction to meet high performance standards, prepare buildings for all-electric heating and cooling, and make parking ready for electric vehicle chargers.
Cambridge adopts the Fossil Fuel-Free ordinance, which requires future buildings and major renovations to be fossil fuel-free.
Cambridge updates its Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, identifying strategies to reduce risks from flooding, severe storms, extreme heat, and other hazards that threaten residents, infrastructure, and property.
Cambridge also updates its Green Building Requirements, strengthening standards for sustainable construction and major renovations.
Related Resources
- Amendment to City Zoning Ordinance (March 2023)
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Cambridge Climate Committee (formerly known as the Climate Protection Action Committee)
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- April Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- May Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- June Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda and Minutes
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda and Minutes
- Fossil Fuel-Free Demonstration Ordinance
- Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update: Public Meetings
- Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Update Final Package
- Specialized Stretch Energy Code
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Cambridge establishes the Office of Sustainability led by the newly established role of Climate Chief. The City’s sustainability, resiliency, climate action, and energy programs move out of the Community Development Department’s Environmental and Transportation Planning Division and are placed under the Office’s purview.
The new Office of Sustainability announces that Cambridge and the Consortium for Climate Solutions, led by Harvard, MIT, and Mass General Brigham, had reached a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with a new wind facility being built in Bowman, North Dakota. The VPPA allows all of the electricity used by Cambridge City buildings, schools and operations to be 100% carbon neutral beginning in 2026.
The City soon announces a second VPPA with the Prairie Solar wind farm in Illinois. It's the largest-ever VPPA agreement directly by any U.S. city and the first of its kind in the Northeast. The VPPA allows Cambridge Community Electricity to provide more renewable energy to residents and businesses.Related Resources
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Cambridge Climate Committee (formerly known as the Climate Protection Action Committee)
- January Agenda and Minutes
- February Agenda and Minutes
- March Agenda and Minutes
- April Agenda and Minutes
- May Agenda and Minutes
- June Agenda and Minutes
- July Agenda and Minutes
- No meeting in August
- September Agenda and Minutes
- October Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- November Agenda and Minutes
- December Agenda (Minutes unavailable)
- Embodied Emissions
- Virtual Purchase Power Agreement (VPPA) Announcements
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Cambridge Climate Committee (formerly known as the Climate Protection Action Committee)
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Cambridge completes an update to its Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, identifying strategies to reduce risks from hazards including flooding, severe storms, extreme heat, and other events that threaten residents, infrastructure, and property.
The Environmental Businesses Council of New England recognizes Cambridge and other members of the Consortium for Climate Solutions with an award for their ground-breaking public-private collaboration that made it possible for Cambridge’s City operations to go carbon-free.
Related Resources
The City Council adopts the Zero Waste Master Plan 2.0.- Cambridge Climate Committee Agendas and Minutes from this point forward are on the Climate Committee page.
- Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
- Press Release: Cambridge and Local Consortium Win Award for Pioneering a New Way of Procuring Renewable Energy
- Zero Waste Master Plan 2.0
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The City begins implementing the new emissions reduction requirements established through amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO). Non-residential buildings with 100,000 sq ft or more start reducing emissions under BEUDO.
Cambridge and Somerville, together with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, submitted a joint Draft Updated Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to protect local waterways from pollution. The Draft Updated Plan is the first in the nation to go beyond EPA guidance and prepare for climate change.
Cambridge, Somerville, and the ten other Bluebikes municipalities, announced a new five-year contract with Lyft to operate the Bluebikes regional bike share system. The new contract also removes barriers to system growth by eliminating monthly operations fees for all participating municipalities.Cambridge mandates that, beginning in 2027, food waste be kept out of the trash, large residential and commercial buildings must submit Zero Waste Plans, retail stores may only provide paper or compostable bags, and customers must ask for utensils and other disposable items.
Related Resources
- Press Release: Mayor Wu and Bluebikes Municipalities Announce Five-Year Contract with Lyft, Major Electric Bike Fleet Expansion and Introduction of Charging Stations
- Press Release: Cambridge Adopts New Zero Waste Policies to Take Effect in 2027
- Combined Sewer Overflows