The City of Boston Plans for Adaptation

Climate Ready Boston (PDF) (199 pp, 117 MB, About PDF)Exit

In 2007, Boston’s Mayor directed each city department to assess their risks and vulnerabilities from a changing climate. In the subsequent years Boston developed a report “Climate Ready Boston - Municipal Vulnerability to Climate Change,” that anticipates climate impacts to, and vulnerabilities for, the city of Boston. The Climate Ready Boston Adaptation Plan projects how climate change is expected to lead to impacts ranging from sea level rise to extreme weather events. The report utilized existing research and analysis to identify potential municipal infrastructure and other city services that could be impacted by climate change. Boston used the knowledge gained from Climate Ready Boston to integrate the climate risks and vulnerabilities within their Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Climate Ready Boston Adaptation Plan (PDF) (199 pp, 177 MB, About PDF)

How Did They Do It?	Applicable EPA Tools
Mayor issued an Executive Order to identify and plan to reduce climate risks The Executive Order directed each city department to “prepare an integrated plan that outlines actions to reduce the risks from the likely effects of climate change, and coordinate those actions with the City’s plans for emergency response, homeland security, natural hazard mitigation, neighborhood planning, and economic development.”	The National Climate Assessment Regional Chapters and Local Government Climate Adaptation Training can help you identify regional climate risks and how they may impact local community services. National Climate Assessment Local Government Climate Adaptation Training
City departments conducted vulnerability assessments A Climate Preparedness Task Force, consisting of department heads from across city government analyzed vulnerabilities to city services using existing climate studies, including the National Climate Assessment (see below), to inform their vulnerability assessment.	The Climate Change Adaptation Workbook can help community organizations that manage environmental resources prepare a broad, risk-based adaptation plan. Climate Change Adaptation Workbook
Boston used the vulnerability assessments to inform community plans The Office of Emergency Management utilized the vulnerability assessments and Vulnerability-Consequence Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) to integrate climate change vulnerabilities within their Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Vulnerability-Consequence Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS)	View the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit to learn more about VCAPS and other tools to help communities integrate vulnerabilities into community plans. U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

How Did They Do It?

Applicable EPA Tools

Mayor issued an Executive Order to identify and plan to reduce climate risks

The Executive Order directed each city department to “prepare an integrated plan that outlines actions to reduce the risks from the likely effects of climate change, and coordinate those actions with the City’s plans for emergency response, homeland security, natural hazard mitigation, neighborhood planning, and economic development.”

The National Climate Assessment Regional Chapters and Local Government Climate Adaptation Training can help you identify regional climate risks and how they may impact local community services.

National Climate Assessment

Local Government Climate Adaptation Training

City departments conducted vulnerability assessments

A Climate Preparedness Task Force, consisting of department heads from across city government analyzed vulnerabilities to city services using existing climate studies, including the National Climate Assessment (see below), to inform their vulnerability assessment.

The Climate Change Adaptation Workbook can help community organizations that manage environmental resources prepare a broad, risk-based adaptation plan.

Climate Change Adaptation Workbook

Boston used the vulnerability assessments to inform community plans

The Office of Emergency Management utilized the vulnerability assessments and Vulnerability-Consequence Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) to integrate climate change vulnerabilities within their Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- Vulnerability-Consequence Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS)

View the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit to learn more about VCAPS and other tools to help communities integrate vulnerabilities into community plans.

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

Similar Cases and More Information

Determining climate risk and vulnerability is just the first step to adapting to climate change. Communities also need to identify and employ adaptation strategies as well. To see how Boston adapted its wastewater treatment facility to sea level rise, view the Deer Island example.

Boston Raises Wastewater Facility to Avoid Inundation

References

Climate Action Executive Order (PDF)(3 pp, 118 K)
Climate Ready Boston: Municipal Vulnerability to Climate Change
Appendix to the Climate Ready Boston: Municipal Vulnerability to Climate Change (PDF)(71 pp, 11.6 MB)
City of Boston Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (PDF)(335 pp, 17.2 MB)

The City of Boston Plans for Adaptation

Similar Cases and More Information

References

Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X)