Climate Change Planning Efforts

While Massachusetts has many accomplishments to be proud of in the realm of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and creating safe, adaptive, and resilient communities, we are actively working to continue and expand each of those efforts. Read below to see the many efforts to plan and coordinate actions combating climate change in Massachusetts, regionally, nationally, and across the world.

MA Decarbonization: Roadmap to 2050 and Implementation Plan to 2030

To achieve long-term emission reduction goals within the Commonwealth, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has undertaken a planning process to develop the "2050 Roadmap," identifying cost-effective and equitable strategies and implementation pathways that ensure Massachusetts achieves net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The 2050 Roadmap has informed the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs in the setting of the 2030 emissions limit and the development of the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 for achieving that limit.  More information on the 2030 CECP is at www.mass.gov/2030CECP

Real Impacts, Coordinated Response

In the last ten years, the Commonwealth has led the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fueled a new economy built on innovation and technology.  As we look to 2020 and beyond, Massachusetts has an opportunity to continue its leadership, working with regional states and partners through programs like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Transportation and Climate Initiative, and coalitions like the U.S. Climate Alliance. Global warming is not a problem that Massachusetts can solve alone. Only by engaging and working with our partners in New England and across the world will we be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve our natural resources, continue to grow our economy, and protect our residents and communities from the impacts of climate change. 

New England Energy Vision

In October 2020, the six New England states released a “Vision Statement" outlining the vision for a clean, affordable, and reliable 21st century regional electric grid.  In the statement, the New England states committed to engaging in a collaborative and open process, supported by NESCOE, intended to advance the principles discussed in the Vision Statement.  As part of this effort, the New England states announced a series of online technical forums to discuss the issues presented in the Vision Statement.. More information is available at www.newenglandenergyvision.com

US Climate Alliance

The United States Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Alliance is led by state governments and is focused on state-to-state cooperation to accelerate the deployment of climate solutions needed to help each achieve their climate goals.

Pursuant to our GWSA, which requires a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, Massachusetts is already on track to achieve emissions reductions consistent with the Paris Agreement (which called for a 26-28% reduction below 2005 levels by 2025), Participating in the Alliance allowed Massachusetts to further leverage its leadership and success to-date. As of 2019, the Alliance states comprised 55% of the U.S. population, an $11.7 trillion economy, and 40% of U.S. GHG emissions. Thus, continued participation in the Alliance represents an element of the Commonwealth's commitment to lead the way for other states and nations seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions - and make a sizable difference in the fight against global climate change.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

In January 2007, Massachusetts joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cooperative effort by Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States to reduce CO₂ emissions from large fossil-fueled power plants. RGGI is a regulatory program that uses market incentives. States collectively set a limit - or cap - on greenhouse gas emissions, then auction a number of "allowances" (each to emit one metric tonne of CO₂) equal to the cap. The proceeds of the auctions are then invested into a variety of state programs, such as energy efficiency incentives, fuel assistance programs, and electric vehicle rebates that help consumers to reduce their energy demand and decarbonize the entire economy.

Massachusetts is working to expand this "cap-and-invest" model beyond the power sector through the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI).

Comprehensive Energy Plan

In accordance with Executive Order No. 569: : Establishing an Integrated Climate Change Strategy for the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) published a Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) in December 2018.

The CEP includes reasonable projections of the Commonwealth’s energy demands for electricity, transportation, and thermal conditioning. The CEP also includes strategies for meeting these demands in a regional context, prioritizing meeting energy demand through conservation, energy efficiency, and other demand-reduction resources in a manner that contributes to meeting the Commonwealth’s greenhouse gas emissions limits set by the GWSA.

Commission on the Future of Transportation

In January 2018, the Governor's Executive Order No. 579 established the Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth to advise the Administration on future transportation needs and challenges in Massachusetts. The Commission explored anticipated changes in technology, climate, land use, and the economy to determine likely impacts on transportation between 2020 and 2040, including:

1. Climate and Resiliency
2. Transportation Electrification
3. Autonomous and Connected Vehicles
4. Transit and Mobility Services
5. Land Use and Demographics

The results of the Commission's work were published in December 2018.