C40 Welcomes Boston to its Growing Network of International Cities Committed to Tackling Climate Change

LONDON, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) today announced the addition of Boston – the largest city in New England - to its growing network, making it the 67^th global city to become a member.  

"I am excited to welcome Boston to the C40. Founded in 1630, the city has a history of developing and successfully implementing innovative solutions to urban challenges," said C40 Chair, Mayor Eduardo Paes of Rio de Janeiro. "Boston, through a series of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, is already a demonstrated leader and we have much to learn from them. In turn, our vast global network with their wealth of experience can help Boston tackle many of the challenges that lie ahead." 

Considered one of the most sustainable cities in the United States, the City of Boston has made considerable progress in reducing community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 14 percent from 2005 to 2012, more than halfway to the City's 2020 goal of 25 percent reduction. It also reduced GHG emissions from municipal government operations by almost 25 percent in the same period. The city is pursuing these ambitious goals through a comprehensive climate action strategy that includes a recently passed energy reporting and disclosure ordinance, an aggressive bicycle network plan and complete streets policy, and a stretch energy code that require new buildings to be 20% more efficient than Massachusetts' base energy code.

"The City of Boston is proud to join the C40," said Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh. "Boston has set out to be an example to cities in the region and across the country in setting aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals, preparing for unavoidable changes in climate, and working closely with our residents, businesses, and institutions to ensure that climate action promotes economic vitality and social equity."

Mayor Walsh added that participation in the C40 would open up greater opportunities for sharing what Boston has done and benefiting from insights and partnerships with cities in C40's global network.

The Boston metropolitan area has one of the largest and most diverse populations in the United States, and is home to a rapidly growing and evolving business and innovation community, and strong, world-renowned academic and medical institutions.

Boston is the latest North American city to join C40 – other recent additions include Washington, DC and Vancouver.  

For more information on membership guidelines please go to www.C40.org.

About C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40)
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate-related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. C40 was established in 2005 and expanded via a partnership in 2006 with President William J. Clinton's Climate Initiative. The current chair of the C40 is Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes; the 108th Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. To learn more about the work of C40 and our Cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

SOURCE C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40)