Boston needs a mayor who leads on climate: Michelle Wu

This week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest report which concluded the planet is warming fast, every region worldwide will be affected, and human activities are a contributing factor. Our only choice now is immediate and sustained greenhouse gas emission reductions. This will take political leadership at every level of government.

Boston is on the frontlines of climate change. We just experienced the hottest June on record, followed by the wettest July. So many of Boston’s communities are vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding, and extreme heat. Right now, Boston has an opportunity to lead the nation with bold and innovative policy solutions. This leadership depends on electing a mayor with the vision to implement solutions for a sustainable, vibrant, healthy future for all.

At a May candidate forum co-hosted by the Boston Globe and the Environmental League of MA, it was clear that every candidate in this talented field had considered climate change and environmental justice. However, not all are prepared to lead. Boston needs a leader who is equipped to face climate change. This is the existential threat of our time — a threat that compounds many other key issues facing Boston, particularly housing, public health, racial justice, transportation and economic opportunity.

We need Michelle Wu.

Since 2013, Wu has been a champion for climate action as our city councilor. She will continue to champion as our next mayor.

Climate change is a housing issue. Wu fights for resilient, energy efficient, affordable, transit-oriented housing.

Climate change is a public health issue. Wu understands the health burdens from pollution and burning fossil fuels. She prioritizes health improvements when setting her priorities.

Climate change is a racial justice issue. The negative impacts of climate change do not weigh on us all equally. Communities of color have borne more than their share of environmental hazards for generations. Climate change is multiplying those risks. Wu brings an informed racial equity lens to her policymaking.

Climate change is a transportation issue. Tailpipe emissions are the largest source of climate pollution in Massachusetts. Wu advocates for clean, accessible transportation to reduce pollution and traffic, and improve air quality and quality of life.

Climate change is an economic opportunity issue. Boston suffers from massive income inequality. Clean energy and climate adaptation are two sectors poised to grow rapidly in the next four years. Wu embraces the potential of the clean economy and works to ensure that the many opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship reach all communities.

Wu’s one-of-a-kind Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery plan imagines a better, bolder, brighter Boston that serves all of its residents. Her plan will make Boston more resilient and address the root causes of climate change to mitigate further harm. Released as the first plan of Wu’s candidacy, a sign of its importance to her campaign, the Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery includes green workforce development, the creation of an urban climate corps, and a Blue New Deal to protect our communities from rising tides while protecting our oceans.

At their core, each of Wu’s plans are centered around justice. She acknowledges the harsh reality that communities most affected by COVID are the same as those disproportionately affected by urban heat islands, food deserts, high asthma rates, increasing auto dependency, and a lack of economic opportunity. She knows that this is not a coincidence, but a policy failure. Instead of continuing to write off historically overburdened and under-resourced communities, Michelle centers their voices, priorities, and wellbeing in her vision for Boston’s future. Michelle understands when our most vulnerable communities succeed, we all succeed.

The Wu campaign is powered by ambitious policy proposals and a long history of proven leadership on issues of climate and equity. Since her first term on the City Council, Michelle has been unapologetic in her bold vision for Boston. In 2019 she was Boston’s first elected official to call for a fare-free T. Not only her policies, but her compassion for and inclusion of all Boston residents, set her apart in the impressive field of mayoral candidates. Michelle Wu will work tirelessly to make Boston a global beacon for effective, equitable, and replicable climate policy leadership.