Climate Emergency Communications in Metro West Written by Sharon Ron, Assistant Director of Public Health August 25, 2023 – The residents of Metro West were concerned; in surveys and focus group conversations, they reflected that climate change was causing more extreme weather and wanted to know, “How can we be ready for climate emergencies?” In […]
Continue reading...Heat Preparedness Week 2023: Climate Change is a Public Health Issue Written by Sasha Shyduroff, Senior Clean Energy and Climate Planner August 21, 2023 – The Greater Boston region is experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves, as well as rising temperatures due to climate change. Just this year, a heat emergency was declared on July […]
Continue reading...FY2024 Budget: How MAPC Priorities Fared MAPC thanks Governor Healey for approving a FY2024 budget that increases or maintains funding for key MAPC priorities, including the District Local Technical Assistance program, Shannon Grant, and more. August 18, 2023 – Governor Healey signed her first budget into law on August 9. The legislation includes $55.98 billion […]
Continue reading...Community Liaison Model: An Emerging Best Practice for Community Engagement at the Intersection of Climate and Public Health Written by Julia Nassar, Clean Energy and Climate Planner II, and Sharon Ron, Senior Public Health and Regional Planner June 27, 2023 – Meaningful climate action requires meaningful, community-driven engagement. Community engagement can build local awareness of […]
Continue reading...Metropolitan Area Planning Council Awards More Than $400k to 15 Local Projects Arlington, Ashland, Beverly, Boston, Cambridge, Carlisle, Everett, Framingham, Gloucester, Holliston, Ipswich, Lynn, Maynard, Middleton, Milton, Natick, Quincy, Randolph, Salem, Somerville receive grants for transportation projects, urban agriculture, zoning, affordable housing, language access, and more April 24, 2023 – BOSTON – Fifteen municipal projects […]
Continue reading...Supporting Households as Federal Extra COVID SNAP Benefits Ends Written by Jessika Brenin, Public Health & Food Systems Planner II, and Heidi Stucker, AICP, Assistant Director of Public Health During the COVID-19 pandemic, households in Massachusetts enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were receiving extra, temporary benefits, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments. However, […]
Continue reading...Metropolitan Area Planning Council Announces Policy Priorities Ahead of 193rd Legislative Session MAPC’s legislative priorities are rooted in the goals set in MetroCommon 2050 to create a more equitable, sustainable, resilient, and prosperous region and Commonwealth. In December 2022, the MAPC Executive Committee approved a new package of policy priorities for the 2023-2024 legislative session. […]
Continue reading...Funding Opportunities for Mass. Schools to Invest in Indoor Air Quality & Heat Resilience Written by Sharon Ron, MAPC senior public health planner, Paula Giraldo and Geri Medina, Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership / Health Resources in Action The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will be granting $100 million to school districts to […]
Continue reading...Prepared by the Metro Mayors Climate Taskforce, the plan details six strategic focus areas for reducing risk and exposure to and improving preparedness for climate-driven extreme September 30, 2022 – BOSTON – With summer’s relentless heat barely in the rearview mirror, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and a collaboration of 15 Boston area municipalities […]
Continue reading...Massachusetts House and Senate Pass Comprehensive Climate Legislation Photo by Aubrey Odom-Mabey, Unsplash For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 21 2022 The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is pleased that the Legislature has passed a comprehensive climate package that will positively impact our region’s environment, infrastructure, economy, and public health. We thank both the House and Senate […]
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