A wide collection of Boston climate, environmental, climate justice, and community groups is sponsoring the 2021 Boston Mayoral Climate / Climate Justice Forum on Tuesday June 1st at 6:30 pm.

Governor Charlie Baker vetoed the Next-Generation Roadmap Climate Bill. Among other excuses, his reasons—and our responses—include:

• The bill would halt new construction of affordable housing. In reality, energy efficient homes cost the same or less than those using gas, save money over time, and improve health by reducing indoor pollution. Baker’s stance is supported by the real estate lobby, but opposed by advocates for affordable housing.
• The bill is too ambitious in seeking 50 percent reduction in climate pollution by 2030; he prefers a goal of 45 percent reduction, and less frequent monitoring of progress made. As the climate crisis intensifies, the Commonwealth’s actions need to be more aggressive, not less. 
• He complained about the Roadmap’s new Stretch Building Codes for clean energy, even though they are featured in his own plan. 
• The bill is weak on environmental justice. Actually, the Roadmap bill is a good start on justice issues, and environmental justice advocates are united in their support.
• The Roadmap bill does not address climate resilience. This is accurate, but not a justification for vetoing an otherwise substantial and beneficial bill. Climate groups stand ready to work with the Governor on climate resilience funding.

On September 14, the Merrimack Valley faced an unprecedented tragedy - a series of “Armageddon-like” gas explosions that killed a teenager, injured ten others, and ignited fires in about 40 homes displacing many more.

Climate advocates have been warning about the dangers of natural gas for years, and while this explosion is tragic, it was not unforeseeable. We hereby call for Governor Baker--who has previously pushed for the public to subsidize massive new gas infrastructure expansions--to immediately issue a freeze on all new natural gas construction in the state until after thorough investigations both of what happened in this situation and of the many vulnerabilities in our existing system are completed.

We also call on Governor Baker to express his immediate and unconditional support for National Grid to end the lock-out of the USW Local 12003 union so that these skilled workers can return to the important task of cleaning up the tens of thousands of existing leaks in our state’s natural gas infrastructure.”

You want to fight for climate justice with 350 Mass, and we want to make sure you have a role that excites you! Please take a moment to provide/update your information and share how you'd like to be involved. 

You can view a complete map of node territories here.