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“One of the things that makes me most proud of Somerville is that we are always ready to take on the most pressing issues we face as a society. Climate change is one of those issues. Our community has rallied to support citywide carbon reduction goals. Our residents are choosing to walk, ride, bike, and roll in record numbers. When we offer programs to go solar or greener, people and businesses step up. This is the determination and the momentum that I promise to continue to build on as your Mayor – and I’ll need you beside me.” – Mayor Ballantyne

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SustainaVille is home to the City’s programs and initiatives to reduce Somerville’s contribution to climate change and prepare for the impacts of climate change. On this page, you can learn about SustainaVille initiatives and how you can get involved in climate action.

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Sustainability and environmental stewardship are important values to the Somerville community and are clearly articulated in SomerVision, the city’s comprehensive plan. Through SustainaVille, we uphold these values by working collectively to advance sustainability and climate resilience within our city government and throughout the community. This work is being done across city departments and in partnership with community stakeholders.

 

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About SustainaVille

SustainaVille is home to the City of Somerville’s programs and initiatives to reduce Somerville’s contribution to climate change and to develop our city’s ability to prepare for the impacts of climate change. On this page, you can learn about SustainaVille initiatives and how you can get involved in climate action.

Sustainability and environmental stewardship are important values to the Somerville community and are clearly articulated in SomerVision, the city’s comprehensive plan. Through SustainaVille, we are upholding these values by working collectively to advance sustainability and climate resilience within our city government and throughout the Somerville community. This work is being done across city departments and in partnership with community stakeholders. Together we’re slowing climate change and building a healthy, safe, and thriving Somerville.

Climate Forward is Somerville’s climate action plan, first developed in 2018. The City is updating the plan with community feedback and more recent climate data. This update will reassess our priorities and identify strategies to accomplish our climate goals. Learn more about the plan update at https://voice.somervillema.gov/somerville-climate-forward-update.

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What You Can Do

Resources and Reports

  • Carbon Neutrality Pathway Assessment

    This report defines carbon neutrality and analyzes the technological transformations necessary to achieve this emissions reduction target, through the implementation of policies and programs. This report presents a possible pathway to reduce emissions but does not encompass all of the ways the city can reduce emissions and is not intended to be a prescription for how the city should reach its goal. The report is an exercise in understanding what it will take to become carbon neutral and is a baseline resource for the strategies recommended in Climate Forward.

  • Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

    The Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) analyzes how climate change is expected to impact Somerville in the coming decades. The study looks at Somerville’s risks from sea level rise and storm surge, increasing temperatures, and precipitation-based flooding. The study identifies key priorities of Somerville to focus on in order to reduce climate related risks. The information in the assessment is used to develop strategies in Climate Forward and will help the City make future decisions that can reduce risks to climate impacts within Somerville and within the region.

  • Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory

    The City completes an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for all of Somerville as well as an inventory of the subset of emissions that are from city government operations every two years. The inventories of 2014 emissions provide a baseline for planning emissions reductions and measuring progress in future years. These reports identify the leading sources of climate change-causing emissions in our community. In 2023, Somerville completed its first Consumption-Based Emissions Inventory (CBEI) an estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the activity of all residents of a geographic area.

  • Zero Waste Plan

    Somerville's Zero Waste Plan provides recommendations for specific actions to build a zero-waste community and align with community climate goals. The plan identifies waste diversion goals and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction initiatives. The plan recommends long-term waste management contracts, equipment considerations, and programs to reduce trash to protect public health and create safe environments.

  • Hazard Mitigation Plan

    Somerville’s Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies actions that can be taken to reduce the dangers to life and property from natural hazard events. The plan makes recommendations to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards such as flooding, hurricanes, and winter storms. The plan also addresses the impacts of climate change, and features recommended mitigation actions the City can take to become more resilient to natural hazards.

  • Lower Mystic Region Climate Assessment

    Six municipalities in the Lower Mystic Watershed—Boston (Charlestown and East Boston), Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop—host New England’s highest concentration of critical infrastructure. These communities partnered with infrastructure managers, state and federal emergency response agencies, community-based organizations, and researchers to understand infrastructure and social vulnerability. This assessment provides us with the data needed to prioritize capital and operational investments.

  • Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Plan

    In an effort to both lower the cost of electricity bills as well as introduce green power options into our energy supply, the City of Somerville created a citywide electricity bulk buying program known as Community Choice Electricity. The program maximizes savings and provides a full set of consumer protections, including the right for any customer to opt out of the program at any time at no charge.

 

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