Boston’s Message on the Paris Agreement

After reports yesterday that President Trump plans to put our future at risk by backing out of the Paris Climate Agreement, here is my message to the White House urging them to reconsider.

The Paris Agreement is a plan to protect the planet, protect America, and protect Boston. It has reachable emissions targets that will slow climate change. It will protect Boston’s residents from dangers like sea level rise — which Boston is addressing in our Imagine Boston 2030 plan — as well as heat waves, and catastrophic storms. And it will create green jobs for the future right here in the City.

More than 190 countries, including China, have signed on to the Paris Agreement. It was the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement. And when the U.S. signed on in 2015, Boston was there at the table, because Boston is a worldwide leader in climate action.

As a coastal city, we know what’s at stake. We’ve set an ambitious goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Climate action will guide all of our citywide planning efforts — from Imagine Boston 2030, to Go Boston 2030, to Climate Ready Boston. And this month, we were named, for the third time in a row, the most energy efficient city in America by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

I urge the President not to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement. It will damage our reputation as an international leader. It will undermine our country’s commitment to meeting the challenges of climate change. It will also put at risk our future generations. We only have one chance to get this right. When we talk about heat waves and major storms we’re talking about risking lives here in Boston, and we cannot let it happen.

No matter what the President decides, I want to make it absolutely clear — to the White House and our partners worldwide — that the City of Boston will not back down.

We are going to continue to invest in clean energy and creates jobs. We are going to continue to make sure our air and water cleaner for our residents. And we are going to make sure our city and our country continues to do what it can to make it more secure.

We will honor our responsibilities to our children and to our planet. And we will do what is right. That’s who we are in this City.

I want to reaffirm our commitment to being a carbon neutral Boston by 2050. If this administration turns its back on the environment, cities like Boston will step up. As North American Co-Chair of the C40 Climate Cities steering committee, I call on cities nationwide to do the same.

We have helped lead the world in progress on climate action. We will not let this be undone by foolish political reasons. Our city depends upon it. Our future depends upon it. Our future generations depend on it. Our planet depends on it.