Climate Resiliency

The City of Boston conducted a Climate Vulnerability Assessment to identify major climate hazards that will have the greatest impact on Boston. The assessment evaluated extreme heat, stormwater flooding and coastal and riverine flooding and how they will affect Boston's people, infrastructure and economy.

Extreme Heat
As average temperatures rise the city is vulnerable to health impacts of extreme heat, increased urban heat island effect and stress on the city's energy supply and related infrastructure. 

Stormwater Flooding
The frequency and intensity of wet weather events continues to increase with climate change. These storms result in increased flooding and limit mobility and access across Boston. 

Coastal and Riverine Flooding
As a coastal community rising sea levels will cause large-scale flooding both during storm events and high tides.

With the addition of sea level rise and more intense precipitation conveying collected stormwater may pose as a challenge. Increased wet weather events coupled with storm surge have the ability to overwhelm the existing infrastructure, resulting in localized flooding.

In response to the Climate Vulnerability Assessment the City created the Climate Resilience Initiatives that identifies five actions to prepare Boston for climate change.

• Updated Climate Projections
• Prepared and Connected Communities
• Protected Shores
• Resilient Infrastructure
• Adapted Buildings

• Climate Ready Boston
• Climate Ready Boston Map Explorer
• National Climate Assessment FAQs
• NOAA Understanding Stormwater Innundation
• NOAA Tide Predictions
• Green Infrastructure & Low Impact Development
• BWSC Regulatory Compliance: Consent Decree