Newton has made important progress toward its climate goals—installing more solar, expanding energy efficiency programs, and taking bold steps to reduce emissions from large buildings. But with residential emissions still making up nearly 60% of the city’s greenhouse gas footprint, much more needs to be done to reach net-zero by 2050.
A recent article in The Newton Beacon highlights the challenge ahead—and the opportunity for residents to step up. As Green Newton Executive Director Judy Jacobs explains, “We have a long way to go and we’re not on track right now to meet [our 2050 neutrality] goals, but the city and climate activists have taken significant measures to move forward.”
Philip Hanser, Chair of the Newton Energy Commission, reflects on how Newton’s first Climate Action Plan helped set the stage: “One of the great things the first plan accomplished was raising awareness about what we need to do to reach our 2050 decarbonization goals.”
The article explores the city’s next Climate Action Plan and what it will take, from installing tens of thousands of heat pumps to switching to electric vehicles and increasing community engagement to stay on course.