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| Executive Order on Climate Change (Massachusetts) | |
|---|---|
| Title | Executive Order on Climate Change (Massachusetts) |
| Issued by | Maura Healey |
| Date issued | 2023 |
| Jurisdiction | Massachusetts |
| Status | Active |
Executive Order on Climate Change (Massachusetts) is an executive order issued by the Governor of Massachusetts to coordinate state action on climate resilience, greenhouse gas reduction, and adaptation. The order directs multiple cabinet-level agencies, establishes interagency councils, and sets binding targets aligned with regional and federal frameworks. It built on prior state statutes and interstate collaborations to accelerate planning, investment, and regulatory alignment.
The executive order emerged amid rising attention from events such as Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Ida, and scientific assessments including reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National Climate Assessment. Massachusetts officials cited precedent from orders by Governor Charlie Baker, initiatives by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and programs administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. It responded to advocacy from groups including Conservation Law Foundation, 350.org, and Sierra Club Massachusetts, and followed strategic guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The order also connected to planning frameworks used by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and research from institutions such as MIT, Harvard University, and Boston University.
Provisions require agencies such as the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to develop climate resilience plans, coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and integrate hazard mitigation strategies used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The order mandates greenhouse gas inventories consistent with protocols from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and reporting aligned with the U.S. Climate Alliance and the Under2 Coalition. It establishes an interagency Climate Change Policy Council modeled after statewide councils like the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center board and tasks the State Treasurer of Massachusetts with leveraging green finance mechanisms similar to tools used by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.
Implementation assigns responsibilities across the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The order requires collaboration with municipal bodies including the Boston City Council and regional authorities such as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. It calls for partnerships with academic partners like University of Massachusetts Amherst and Northeastern University, private sector entities such as Eversource Energy and National Grid, and federal partners including the Department of Transportation (United States) and the Department of Energy (United States). Grant programs mirror models from the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program and the Rebuild by Design initiative.
The order sets targets for emissions reductions informed by the Global Warming Solutions Act and benchmarks used by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Commonwealth's 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap. Timelines include near-term milestones to 2025 and 2030 and long-term goals to 2040 and 2050, aligning with national strategies such as the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement and regional plans by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management. It mandates periodic reporting similar to practices by the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council and includes monitoring protocols adapted from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Legal challenges referenced precedents from litigation involving the Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency decision and disputes over regulatory authority such as cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Opponents, including industry groups represented by organizations like the Associated Industries of Massachusetts and trade associations, raised questions about executive authority akin to debates in cases involving other state executive orders. Claims have invoked statutory interpretation of the Global Warming Solutions Act and administrative procedure standards tested in proceedings with the Massachusetts Attorney General and federal entities such as the U.S. Department of Justice.
Reception among environmental organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and civil society groups like Mass Audubon was broadly positive, praising alignment with recommendations from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the National Resources Defense Council. Business groups including Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and municipal officials from Cambridge, Massachusetts and Springfield, Massachusetts highlighted economic opportunities tied to clean energy investments and resilience funding. The order influenced infrastructure projects overseen by the Massachusetts Port Authority and planning at institutions such as Logan International Airport. It also shaped state procurement and building codes, with impacts measured against standards from the International Code Council and certifications like LEED.
The executive order built on earlier directives by former governors including Deval Patrick and Charlie Baker and was followed by supplemental orders addressing heat resilience, coastal adaptation, and energy siting similar to actions by other states like California and New York (state). Amendments refined timelines, funding authority, and interagency roles, drawing on lessons from federal initiatives including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and grant programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The order remains part of a broader policy ecosystem including the Global Warming Solutions Act and regional collaborations such as the Northeast Corridor Commission.