Climate Resilience

Learn about Climate Change impacts and projections from the Greater Boston Research Advisory Group from 2022.

Learn about the Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model projections for sea level rise and storm surge in Boston and across the Commonwealth.

Extreme temperature maps were produced for the 2022 Heat Plan. These maps include: daytime and nighttime temperatures, heat event duration, and urban heat island intensity.

We completed coastal resilience plans to study and address coastal flooding from sea level rise and storms for all 47 miles of Boston's coastline. Visit this webpage to read the plans and learn more about the planning process.

We are taking action to adapt and protect Boston's waterfront from coastal flooding from sea level rise and storms. Visit this webpage to learn more about our implementation progress and view our Project Tracker.

The study builds on the Climate Ready Boston initiative's coastal resilience plans and will recommend measures that are eligible for direct federal investment.

Green infrastructure helps with coastal flooding, stormwater management, and rising temperatures and is an essential part of Boston’s work towards becoming a greener, more resilient and equitable city.

In 2024, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission implemented an expanded stormwater program that meets an elevated need for investment in stormwater infrastructure.

In 2023, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission studied the impact of climate change on the drainage system and developed possible solutions.

Climate Ready Boston released the Heat Plan in 2022, which identifies strategies to address current and future impacts of increased temperatures and extreme heat events due to climate change.

Download the extreme heat data from the Heat Plan.

The Boston Tree Alliance provides grants and technical support to community-based organizations to plant and care for trees on privately-owned land.

The 2023-2029 Open Space and Recreation Plan provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of Boston's park system as well as a set of goals and a Seven-Year Action Plan that will guide the City’s parks-related work heading towards 2030.

In 2022, the Parks and Recreation Department released a plan for how the Boston community can work together to prioritize, preserve, and grow our tree canopy.

The Boston Conservation Commission adopted a local Wetlands Protection Ordinance in 2019, which gives the City greater authority to protect its wetlands.

The Boston Planning and Development Agency established the Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District in 2022, which formalized the 2018 Coastal Flood Resilience Design Guidelines.

The Boston Public Works Department has guidelines for the design of flood barriers in the public right-of-ways.

Historic buildings must be able to withstand the impacts of climate change to maintain the historic fabric of Boston. The Landmarks Commission has a comprehensive guide to retrofitting Boston’s historic buildings to address climate change.

The Boston Office of Emergency Management works to enhance the City's capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from major emergencies, including extreme weather events such as storms and heat waves.

The Office of Emergency Management updated the City's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2021 with a goal to reduce and respond to the City’s projected risks associated with natural disasters.

Sign up for emergency alerts from the City of Boston. You can sign up for alerts in 11 of the City of Boston's most-spoken languages.

Extreme heat can be dangerous to health, and even fatal. We want our residents and visitors to be safe during hot weather. Find cooling tips and resources on this website.

Find tips for preparing for and staying safe during a storm that creates a flooding event in Boston.

A home emergency kit is for when the City of Boston orders a shelter-in-place. Learn how to create emergency kits.