Brookline Approves New 10-Year Climate Action And Resiliency Plan

BROOKLINE, MA — The town announced the adoption of its 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. This 10-year strategy will guide the town's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for climate-related risks, and work toward its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The Select Board voted to adopt the plan following more than a year of technical analysis, municipal coordination, and community engagement.

Developed by the Department of Public Works' Sustainability and Natural Resources Division, the plan builds on Brookline's 2018 Climate Action Plan and 2023 Hazard Mitigation Plan by combining climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and sustainability into a single planning framework. Town officials said the document is intended to guide future decisions involving municipal operations, infrastructure investments, and long-term planning over the next decade.

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"Brookline has long been recognized as a leader in local climate action, and the adoption of the 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan represents an important milestone in continuing that leadership," Sustainability & Natural Resources Division Director Alexandra Vecchio said in a statement. "This Plan provides an ambitious but focused pathway to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen community resilience, and engage the community in collective action over the next decade."

The plan identifies five focus areas: buildings and energy, resource conservation and management, sustainable transportation and mobility, natural systems and community well-being, and resilience, adaptation, and risk reduction. It includes 45 strategies, supported by 178 individual actions, to be implemented in phases through 2035. The town's highest-priority strategies are expected to begin by 2029, with additional initiatives scheduled to begin by 2032 and 2035. Officials said the phased approach is intended to align implementation with staffing capacity, funding opportunities, operational readiness, and changing community needs.

The planning process included an updated greenhouse gas inventory, a review of previous climate and hazard mitigation plans, an assessment of local climate vulnerabilities, and an evaluation of strategies for Brookline. Community engagement included two public forums, meetings with several town boards and committees, and a townwide survey that received more than 500 responses. The Zero Emissions Advisory Board also served as a technical advisor throughout development of the plan, helping review greenhouse gas data, prioritize strategies, and refine the final document.

"The adoption of the 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan reflects Brookline's commitment to preparing for the future while continuing to provide the critical services residents rely on every day," Town Administrator Charles Carey said in a statement. "The CARP creates a shared framework for departments across Town government to integrate climate mitigation and resilience into long-term planning, infrastructure investments, and day-to-day operations as we work toward Brookline's net-zero emissions goal by 2050."

With the plan now adopted, the Department of Public Works has launched a public dashboard that will track implementation progress. The Sustainability and Natural Resources Division also plans to provide annual updates to the Zero Emissions Advisory Board, Select Board, and other public bodies. Officials said the town will conduct a comprehensive review of the plan after five years to evaluate progress and recommend updates based on evolving technologies, funding opportunities, and community needs.

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