Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A coalition of local leaders, including the mayors of Boston, Malden, Medford, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown, signed a new regional climate agreement at the Museum of Science Monday.
The Greater Boston Metropolitan Mayors Climate Commitment reaffirms an agreement signed in 2015 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
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"Even though the worst of Superstorm Sandy narrowly passed by us, it still caused more than $20 million in damages statewide here in Massachusetts," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said.
The document doubles down on building 185,000 new homes by 2030, repairing critical storm infrastructure, working towards net-zero emissions by 2050, and other climate-based commitments.
1 of 2 Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
2 of 2 Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
Permeating Monday's event was a sense of anxiety over federal funding. Virtually every speaker mentioned the federal government's slashing of climate funds since President Trump took office.
"We’re more than a little nervous, we’re very nervous," said Marc Draisen, Executive Director at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the organization behind the agreement. "There was a lot of federal money flowing to climate change. We can replace some of that funding on the state or local level, but not most of it, frankly, and so yes, we’re nervous."
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also attended the event. Markey told WBZ NewsRadio that behind closed doors, Republican senators are nervous about the cuts.
"Many of them are very concerned," Markey said. "West Virginia, Florida, Georgia—those states are, without question, huge beneficiaries."
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.