Rick Dimino

Winter has come and gone, and while we appreciate the good fortune of a mild start to 2019, metropolitan Boston and areas of coastal Massachusetts still need to prepare for the storms to come.  

A year ago, we remember the vivid scene of ice water flooding the MBTA Aquarium station and the ocean waters overtaking Atlantic Avenue and a large section of Seaport Boulevard in the South Boston Waterfront. This year we avoided a repeat of these conditions and physical damage but the impacts of climate change are still coming, and the entire region’s future is at risk. 

Six years ago, Hurricane Sandy crashed into New York City, resulting in loss of life to dozens and billions in damage to the area’s infrastructure. In the rebuilding process New York and New Jersey focused on resiliency infrastructure needs. If Sandy landed in Boston, we would have seen catastrophic damage. The city and region were not prepared for that situation in 2012,while we have made progress to better understand our vulnerability, there is still a significant amount of work and resources needed. 

Firm Leadership Needed at State Level 

One-time storms with the strength of Hurricane Sandy will always be a unique challenge; but the gradual, constant rise in sea-level, increased heat and precipitation are similar threats. The important work of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, Climate Ready Boston, and the Climate Change Clearinghouse for the Commonwealth detail the stark warnings to specific neighborhoods and areas. Climate planning is underway in over half the commonwealth’s municipalities, but we need to take action when the plans are competed.  

Funding is an obvious challenge, but not the only obstacle. We also need to make progress answering questions related to project delivery plans and governance of this work. An effective approach towards this area’s resiliency needs requires clarity on the roles and expectations of municipalities, the state and region. Should we strongly consider creating a new organization for this work, just as the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority was established to clean up Boston Harbor?  Will we need to create a similar organization or governance structure that can oversee the resiliency projects throughout the metropolitan region and state? How will we allow for the appropriate regulations, financing plans, policies and management of the projects? 

At the state level, we are seeing some progress this legislative session.  

Gov. Charlie Baker proposed increasing fees on real estate transactions as a way to generate additional funding for environmental protection programs. The governor’s Commission on the Future of Transportation recommended making all current and future transportation infrastructure resilient to properly prepare for 2040. Also, House Speaker Robert DeLeo announced a $1 billion program to support municipal flood projection and renewable energy infrastructure. 

While these are important steps and only a few of the pending proposals before the legislature, it is still only a piecemeal approach to a large, comprehensive challenge. The state needs to firmly lead on the new governance strategies and funding support. 

District-Level Work Is Encouraging 

The city of Boston continues to publish neighborhood-specific reports through Climate Ready Boston. They have identified strategic interventions for East Boston, Charlestown and South Boston, respectively and launched additional plans to examine Downtown Boston, the North End and a new Moakley Park.  

These recommended actions are important road maps, but the road is long before we can fully implement most of these requirements. Boston did establish a resiliency overlay district and is developed design guidelines to support new developments. However, none of this work impacts existing buildings. There is more to be done. 

Meanwhile, Massport, the MWRA and other communities are taking seriously their roles in understanding the near, medium and long-term approaches for resiliency infrastructure needs within their control. The business community is leading with the resiliency measures in both new and existing buildings, in terms of energy use and resiliency protection. Yet, we need to all come together to take the collective homework and expert forecasts and move towards meaningful actions to protect this area for the next generation.  

Questions that need serious attention and decisions include: How do the state and municipalities fund the near-, mid- and long-term projects? How do we deliver these projects? What are the combinations of incentives, market-based solutions and regulations to ensure that existing and future buildings and infrastructure can withstand climate impacts? How do we leverage existing resources and, if necessary, create the right new ones to help drive and implement these important initiatives? Should our infrastructure agencies and utility companies be engaged in cross-agency collaboration and coordination with our expected outcomes?  

We are fortunate that metropolitan Boston is thriving today in terms of our economy and quality of life, but the impacts of climate change are already here and will increase. Protecting our coastlines, residents and businesses is possible if we unite together to move forward on the biggest challenges that we know are coming. We shouldn’t need to experience our own Hurricane Sandy to motive the region into sufficient action.  

Rick Dimino is president and CEO of A Better City.