2025 Reports

Boston, Massachusetts: Re-centering Equity and Justice in Resilience Planning

Humphries, Courtney

This case study explores how Boston is reorienting its climate adaptation strategies to address longstanding racial and socioeconomic inequities. While early initiatives like Climate Ready Boston prioritized infrastructure to combat sea level rise, they often overlooked inland neighborhoods facing extreme heat and stormwater risks, many of which are home to marginalized communities. Under Mayor Michelle Wu’s leadership, the city has begun centering equity in climate planning, with new strategies focused on heat resilience, urban forestry, and inclusive community engagement. These plans prioritize historically disinvested neighborhoods and incorporate tools like participatory mapping and an Equity Council to enhance procedural and recognitional justice. Despite this progress, Boston still faces challenges in implementation, including a lack of equity metrics, public mistrust, and limited regional coordination. The case highlights Boston’s evolving efforts as a model for integrating climate resilience and social justice in urban planning.

Keywords: Climate adaptation, equity, social resilience, sea level rise, extreme heat