Boston Receives International Award at Paris Climate Talks

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The City of Boston received an international award Thursday at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) for its leadership in tackling climate change, through the Greenovate Boston Initiative, Mayor Marty Walsh announced. The award for “Smart Cities and Smart Community Engagement” was announced by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group at their third-annual award ceremony at the global climate talks in Paris.

“I am proud that our efforts in Boston are being recognized on the global stage,” said Mayor Walsh. “This award is a well deserved honor for our entire community for our shared commitment to leaving a better Boston for the next generation.”

The C40 Cities Awards, sponsored in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, provide global recognition for cities demonstrating top policies and programs that reduce emissions and improve sustainability. The City of Boston’s “Smart Cities and Smart Community Engagement” award recognized community engagement and participation in the City’s 2014 Updated Climate Action Plan through Greenovate Boston.

Greenovate Boston is a community-driven movement to get all Bostonians involved in reducing Boston greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, as outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan. By laying out steps that all Bostonians can take to reduce the causes of and to prepare for climate change, the Climate Action Plan gives the Boston community a framework for building a greener, healthier, and more prosperous city. To learn more about Greenovate Boston, visit http://www.GreenovateBoston.org.

“We’re honored to be recognized as a climate leader for our work with Greenovate Boston, especially on a global stage,” said Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space Austin Blackmon who attended the award ceremony in Paris. “We have a lot to learn from other cities for their innovative and ambitious climate solutions. And that’s exactly why we’re here -- to share and learn.”

In addition to the award, the City of Boston celebrates its compliance with the Compact of Mayors -- an important measure in achieving its climate commitments by providing a more transparent platform for Boston’s climate progress. By fully complying with the Compact of Mayors, Mayor Walsh reinforces Boston’s commitment of being a leader in tackling climate change.

The Compact of Mayors is the world’s largest coalition of city leaders addressing climate change by pledging to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, tracking their progress, and preparing for the impacts of climate change. The Compact was launch at the 2014 United Nations Climate Summitby U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael R. Bloomberg, under the leadership of the world’s global city networks including C40.