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Leadership

The City is committed to leading on climate and working with residents, local organizations, businesses, and the state and federal governments to make progress.

As such, Leadership is a key focus area in Somerville’s Climate Forward Plan. The Plan lays out the actions the City will take to proactively prepare for climate change and lead by example while acting as a regional leader that sparks action in other communities. 

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Leading by Example
Massachusetts
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Regional Collaboration
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What You Can Do
View Contact Information

The OSE team works remotely from time to time, so please call their cell phones if you are unable to reach them at their office extensions.

Hours

Monday - Wednesday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Email

ose@somervillema.gov

Address

City Hall Annex
50 Evergreen Ave.
Somerville, MA 02145

View All Staff Contacts

 

Leading by Example

The City isn't just talking the talk. Somerville is a designated Massachusetts Green Community and has reduced municipal energy use by 16% between 2014-2018 -- demonstrating what success can look like for our community.

A chart showing the municipal energy use in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Between 2014 and 2018, the City reduced its municipal energy use by 16%.





Climate Ambassadors Program

In 2019, the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) launched the Climate Forward Ambassador Program. Our goal is to educate residents about climate change and increase the community’s capacity to engage in climate action. 

Following participation in the program, Ambassadors are better equipped to:

  • Engage in discussions and decisions about climate change and environmental justice
  • Know how to assess the importance and impact of various climate actions within the city
  • Engage in City-led climate programs and projects
  • Inspire, motivate, and encourage other residents to take action
     



Interested in becoming a Climate Ambassador?
Check if applications for the current cycle are open here:

Somerville residents aged 16 or older are invited to apply

A photo of the 2023 Climate Ambassadors cohort at their final celebration with Mayor Katjana Ballantyne



Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change

The CEUCC is an appointed group of residents who advise the City on climate change and clean energy policy issues and assists the City in designing and implmenting programs related to these topics. The Commission usually holds meetings once a month

Interested in learning more about the CEUCC?
Check out the CEUCC webpage here:

 

Partnering with the State

The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program (MVP) provides support for cities and towns in Massachusetts to begin the process of planning for climate change resiliency and implementing priority projects. The state awards communities with funding to complete vulnerability assessments and develop action-oriented resiliency plans. 

Somerville has won a number of MVP grants for some amazing climate projects, including:

  • Flood risk communication campaign
  • Stormwater system mapping
  • Green infrastructure assessment
  • Water quality analysis
     

A picture of the Massachusetts State House.


Regional Collaboration for Coastal Resilience

The Mystic River has significant industrial facilities along it, making the facilities vulnerable to sea level rise and the impacts of climate change.


Somerville led a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program grant funded project with Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Winthrop, and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) focused on regional infrastructure resilience. 

The project identifies vulnerabilities in the lower Mystic River basin and prioritizes improvements based on their impact on the lives of vulnerable populations.

 


What You Can Do

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne cutting a ribbon at the new solar complex located in Woburn, MA. Somerville gets much of its municipal energy from this solar complex.

 

  • Learn about the MVP program
  • Learn about the Green Communities program
  • Sign up for the SustainaVille newsletter to keep up with the City’s climate action work
  • Become a Climate Ambassador
  • Attend CEUCC Meetings

     


 Check out SustainaVille, the home of Somerville’s climate action initiatives.

 

 

Programs & Initiatives

Slice of the City logo with City Hall in the background.

Slice of the City

Join us to celebrate Somerville’s open spaces, engage with the City outside of formal meetings, and of course – enjoy some pizza.
Cash register

New Small Business Vitality Grant

The City of Somerville’s New Small Business Vitality Grant offers up to 12 months of rental support for physical storefronts, with a maximum of $50,000.
View All City Programs & Initiatives

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