City of Boston
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2019, 2025)
Reporting Period: 2019
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)
Environmental Achievements
- Nearly 5,000 miles of CO2 Pipeline Infrastructure in the U.S.
- U.S. oil industry has purchased, transported and injected nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 over the past half century with no fatalities, serious injuries, or major environmental incidents (~65 million tons of CO2 annually; nearly 4 percent of U.S. oil production).
Social Achievements
- Creation of good-paying, highly-skilled jobs across the value chain of capture, pipeline transport, use and storage.
Governance Achievements
- Unparalleled bipartisan support for reform of the 45Q Tax Credit
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Need to incentivize significant CCUS investment
- Cost gaps after 45Q tax credit
- Meeting 2023 deadline to begin construction for 45Q projects
Mitigation Strategies
- Reform of the 45Q Tax Credit
- Additional state and federal policies to close remaining cost gaps after 45Q
- Engagement of stakeholders, policymakers and media to marshal support for projects
Supply Chain Management
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Period: 2025
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- City of Boston aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
- Hospitals and General Manufacturing to meet BERDO 2030-2034 CO2e Emissions standard by 2025 and reach net zero by 2045. Labs to meet BERDO 2040-2044 CO2e Emissions standard by 2025 and reach net zero by 2035.
Short-term Goals:
- Net Zero Emissions in 2025 for new buildings with 15+ units, 20,000 sq ft or more, and additions of 50,000 sq ft or more (meeting BERDO 2050 CO2e Emissions Standard).
Environmental Challenges
- Buildings account for nearly 71% of Boston's carbon emissions.
Mitigation Strategies
- Net Zero Carbon Zoning Proposal
Supply Chain Management
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: BERDO (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance), LEED