Brookline Earns Climate Leader Designation

BROOKLINE, MA — The town has been designated a Climate Leader Community by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, which is a state recognition tied to the town’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand local climate action. The designation places Brookline in the program’s third cohort of certified municipalities and makes the town eligible to apply for grants of up to $1.15 million.

The grants can support projects that reduce emissions from municipal buildings and the town fleet. The program also offers technical assistance to help communities move projects from planning to implementation while improving energy efficiency and reducing long-term energy costs.

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“Being designated a Climate Leader Community is an exciting milestone for Brookline and a reflection of our ongoing commitment to addressing climate change through meaningful action," Town Administrator Chas Carey said. "This designation creates new opportunities to invest in climate-focused initiatives and infrastructure, and to integrate sustainability into the Town’s capital planning across all departments."

Brookline met five criteria set by the state to earn certification. The town established a local energy committee through its Zero Emissions Advisory Board, which supports Brookline’s goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In October 2025, the Select Board voted to establish that 2050 net-zero goal, consistent with the Commonwealth’s target.

Brookline also completed a Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap that outlines strategies and targets for electrifying municipal buildings and vehicles. In December 2025, the Select Board and School Committee approved updates to the town’s Fleet Management, Electrification, and Vehicle Replacement Policy to prioritize electric vehicle purchases through the annual capital planning process. In January 2023, Town Meeting adopted the Specialized Stretch Energy Code to prioritize all-electric new building construction, and that code took effect on July 1, 2023.

“As Brookline finalizes its 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, this designation will help the Town translate planning into action,” DPW Sustainability and Natural Resources Director Alexandra Vecchio said. “Our Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap identified that transitioning our buildings and fleet to clean energy could reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97 percent by 2050, and this program will position Brookline to advance that work.”

The next step is Brookline’s potential application for Climate Leader Community grant funding, which could help pay for future municipal emissions reduction projects.

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