October 2021 Sustainability and Public Policy News

Photo by Zoltan Tasi

Here’s the best of what we’ve read over the last two months.

“In a major step to address climate change, Boston’s City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a landmark ordinance that will require the city’s large buildings to significantly cut emissions of greenhouse gases. The ordinance, one of only a few of its kind in the country, mandates that some 2,200 buildings that are 35,000 square feet or larger will have to start meeting emissions caps in 2025. Another 1,300 buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger will have to start meeting emissions caps by 2030. The ordinance aims to cut all of those buildings’ emissions in half by the end of the decade and completely by 2050.”
— Boston City Council approves major emissions cuts for large buildings (The Boston Globe)

“Google is building a feature for travelers to differentiate hotels and resorts that are eco-friendly and have sustainable practices. During a Google search for hotels, some on the list now will have a tag that says "Eco-certified" next to a green leaf.”
— Are you an eco-friendly traveler? Google is now marking hotels as green certified (The Arizona Republic)

“Florida’s version of the American dream, which holds that even people of relatively modest means can aspire to live near the water, depends on a few crucial components: sugar white beaches, soft ocean breezes and federal flood insurance that is heavily subsidized. But starting Oct. 1, communities in Florida and elsewhere around the country will see those subsidies begin to disappear in a nationwide experiment in trying to adapt to climate change: Forcing Americans to pay something closer to the real cost of their flood risk, which is rising as the planet warms.”
— The Cost of Insuring Expensive Waterfront Homes Is About to Skyrocket (The New York Times)

“This year's extreme weather is a preview of even more turbulent times that will bedevil us for at least the span of a 30-year mortgage. Extreme weather events are the clearest way we're feeling climate change in our daily lives, and they will reshape where and how we live, work and play.”
— Axios AM Deep Dive: The extreme weather threat (Axios)

“Under current policy as of May 2021, with no new action, the US is on track to reduce GHG emissions 17-25% below 2005 levels in 2030. The range reflects uncertainty around energy markets, clean technology costs and the ability of natural systems to remove carbon from the atmosphere. This leaves a gap of 1.7-2.3 billion metric tons of emission reductions required to achieve the US target in 2030.”
— Pathways to Paris: A Policy Assessment of the 2030 US Climate Target (Rhodium Group)