Category: Environment

MAPC, MyRWA Launch Second Round of COVID-Safe Cooling Program

Posted on April 6, 2021 at 12:07 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

MAPC and Mystic River Watershed Association Launch Second Round of COVID-Safe Cooling Program In the spring of 2020, people were facing plenty of new challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic: preventing themselves from contracting the disease, conforming to social distancing requirements, wearing face masks, and avoiding indoor gatherings among them. But as the weather got […]

April Data Viz: Regional Wastewater Management

Posted on April 1, 2021 at 5:13 pm. Written by Annabelle Thomas Taylor

Every month, MAPC’s Data Services department is releasing maps and data visualizations covering a range of vital and interrelated topics: equity, housing, transportation, climate, arts and culture, and more. April’s visualization explores the region’s sewer lines and wastewater management systems. How we handle wastewater has an impact on community growth, and different systems will require […]

MAPC Applauds Gov. Baker for Signing Landmark Climate Bill

Posted on March 26, 2021 at 3:56 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

For immediate release: Friday, March 26, 2021 BOSTON—The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in Boston released the following statement thanking Gov. Baker for signing the new climate bill into law today. “We at MAPC are thrilled to see this history-making legislation signed into law today. This is a huge win for environmental justice, and will […]

Video: Sea Level Rise and Underwater Municipal Budgets

Posted on March 26, 2021 at 10:10 am. Written by Elise Harmon

On Thursday, March 26, MAPC held the inaugural event in our Accelerating Climate Resiliency Speaker Series. Every other month, we’ll bring experts and practitioners from across the country who can speak to the ways that they are perceiving and advancing resilience. In “Sea Level Rise and Underwater Municipal Budgets,” Dr. Linda Shi, an assistant professor […]

MAPC Submits Public Comment on Governor Baker’s Interim Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2030

Posted on March 23, 2021 at 9:20 am. Written by Elise Harmon

For Release: March 23, 2021, at 9 a.m. MAPC Deputy Director Rebecca Davis released the following statement this morning: “MAPC would like to thank the Baker Administration for the opportunity to provide input on the Interim Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 at this critical juncture in the planning process. As drafted, the plan […]

Regional Climate Collaboration: A Metro Mayors Celebration

Posted on March 19, 2021 at 12:41 pm. Written by Amanda Linehan

In 2015, the Metro Mayors Coalition – a group of “Inner Core” cities and towns surrounding and including Boston – convened to sign a historic Climate Preparedness Commitment and pledged to work together to prepare the region for climate change. Since then, all 15 Metro Mayors communities have made strides to prepare for climate change, […]

DLTA Spotlight: Keep Cool Somerville

Posted on March 3, 2021 at 12:43 pm. Written by Rachel Marx

Photo Credit: Atais Ribeiro, Keep Cool Somerville Photovoice Participant DLTA Spotlight: Keep Cool Somerville A cooling strategies toolkit for increasingly hot summers Written by Operations Specialist Rachel Marx District Local Technical Assistance, or “DLTA” funds, are state grants distributed among the state’s 13 Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs)—including MAPC—to provide cities and towns with money and […]

Accelerating Climate Resiliency Grants: Proposals Due Feb. 26

Posted on February 1, 2021 at 10:03 am. Written by Elise Harmon

If you had the chance to do one small project to prepare your city or town for climate change, what would you do? MAPC is offering another round of Accelerating Climate Resiliency Grants to help municipalities advance strategies that protect people, places, and communities from the impacts of climate change. Generously funded by the Barr […]

MAPC Issues Statement on Trump Administration Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards

Posted on April 2, 2020 at 11:15 am. Written by Elise Harmon

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) today issued a statement responding to weakened fuel efficiency standards announced by the Trump administration. “MAPC strongly opposes fuel efficiency rollbacks that will imperil people’s health, our environment, and the economy of our region, state, and country,” said MAPC Deputy Director Rebecca Davis. “Reversing course on efficiency and greenhouse […]

Videos: Voices on Climate

Posted on December 18, 2019 at 2:53 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

Voices on Climate Change “Cape Cod was named for the codfish, and now we don’t see any codfish anymore,” observes Chatham fisherman Jamie Bassett, gesturing out to the Atlantic Ocean from his boat, “Does that mean the waters are warming around here? I don’t know. I’m not a scientist, I don’t know what the optimum […]