Letter from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Co-Chair and Councillor Quinton Y. Zondervan, Co-Chair of the Health and Environment Committee for a public hearing held on November 13, 2018 to discuss draft recommendations from the Envision Cambridge Climate and Environment working group and any other related matter

ATTACHMENTA 11/13/18 Health & Environment Committee Opening Remarks Would like to focus this discussion on the goals. I've been learning about the concept of holistic planning, which starts with a set of goals that everyone agrees to. Most of our Envision goals are pretty good. However, we have new information about climate change and environmental degradation that is quite troubling, including recent IPCC report, Cambridge canopy study, reports of global species decline, plastic pollution; we are doing lots of damage to the environment. Our Envision goals need to be ambitious and commensurate with this overwhelming scientific evidence of environmental destruction. Feedback on goals This feedback is not meant to be taken as specific language proposals or wordsmithing, just my way of expressing my thoughts on these goals. In general I object to "increasing" or "reducing" in a goal statement because that's setting a direction, not a goal. The goal should be either a specific percentage (e.g. 30% tree canopy), or 0% (bad things) 100% (good things), which is usually not strictly possible (can we really get to zero waste?) and should be phrased as minimizing/maximizing instead of increasing/reducing, meaning that we ideally want to eliminate it (if it's bad) or have as much of it as is physically possible (if it's good). It's critical that these goals be vetted by as many people as possible to create widespread buy-in. • Climate Change Preparedness: Arguably, this is the most important goal in this category and needs to be refined to more clearly state who and what are being protected. We are already protecting people in various ways from various things, so need to be more specific about what the actual goal is. My way of saying it might be: Protect members of the Cambridge community from the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation and injustice, by minimizing their exposure to flooding and heat stress, air pollution and chemical exposure, and by maximizing their access to healthy food, healthy air and clean water. • Community Engagement: Very well intentioned goal, but not clearly enough stated. Another way to get at this might be through the language of "inclusion" rather than engagement, like: Ensure that ALL members of the Cambridge community (residents, institutions and businesses) are included in the decision making process around the City's climate and environment initiatives, informed of the outcomes, and considered in the choices being made, with a preference towards benefitting the most vulnerable and maximizing the public good at all times. • Environmental Protection: Preserve and enhance Cambridge's natural environment, including the preservation of open space, habitats and vegetation and the reduction of air, light, noise, and toxic pollution. We should acknowledge the importance of biodiversity here, for

example: Preserve and enhance Cambridge's biodiversity, through preservation, creation and enhancement of open space, habitats and vegetation while minimizing air, light, noise and chemical/material pollution ("toxic pollution" is redundant, no?). Also, would be good to have specific goals for open space, not necessarily here but in the targets/strategies. Could be a percentage of land area or per capita (or both). • Climate Action: Currently: "Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050" This is a good goal but too far into the future to drive action. How do we get there? What do we do in the meantime? Some ideas to consider: ban fossil fuel combustion in the city by 2040. Achieve council goal of 100% renewable *energy* consumption by 2035. Source 50% of our food from New England, including x% from within Cambridge. Initiate verifiable carbon offsets now with a ramp-down to 2050 so we achieve final neutrality without offsets? Also, how do we define carbon neutrality? Is that even the right goal? What if we phrased it as: "Rapidly reduce Cambridge's greenhouse gas emissions to zero no later than 2050 and then go negative (absorb carbon through biodiversity)". What if we set intermediate goals in that statement like: "Eliminate fossil fuel combustion in our city and obtain 100% of our energy use from renewable sources no later than 2035." and "Obtain 100% of our municipal energy use from renewable sources no later than 2025."? • Water Quality and Management: This goal seems to not be at the same level as the other ones. Maybe this should be relegated to the targets/strategies area? Stormwater runoff management is also unclear; we are managing stormwater runoff now and are regulated by law to do so. So what exactly does "manage" mean here and how is that a goal? Improve the quality in what sense? Maybe: Achieve a sustainable water supply by minimizing water consumption, minimizing stormwater runoff and maximizing rainwater capture, while maximizing surface and groundwater quality through minimizing chemical application and impermeable surfaces. Or maybe those are all strategies towards our first goal which can reference clean water. • Waste Management: Currently: "Minimize waste generation and eliminate landfill waste." Love it! I would add "... eliminate landfill waste by recycling and composting everything that is not reusable and banning all other materials from our waste stream. Climate & Environment Working Group Indicators and Targets Tree canopy coverage Baseline: Need to figure out how we present a multi-year baseline and how we set goals against what is currently a declining tree canopy. Strategy: Develop preparedness and resilience plans at the neighborhood and citywide levels - Deserves a mention of the upcoming climate safety committee's work. Establish a coordinated outreach and engagement approach regarding environmental programs and issues - Needs careful consideration to ensure we are reaching as many people as possible. Incorporate this into our daily activities somehow?

Strategy: Expand the city's tree canopy and promote native plantings and biodiversity - Currently a tension between trees and buildings. Doesn't have to be that way; needs careful consideration for how we can get more of both. Strategy: Preserve and expand green and open spaces, and enhance access to parks - How do we reserve un(der)developed land NOW for open space later? E.g. central square parking lots on Prospect St. Strategy: Reduce air, light, and noise pollution - We are not reducing this at all, we are increasing all of them. How do we reverse this in the face of economic development and a building boom? Strategy: Reduce Building Energy Consumption - Opportunity for integrating with our housing strategy? Experiment with funding mechanisms to incentivize upgrades that preserve affordable housing e.g. commit to section 8 tenants in exchange for low-interest loan? Strategy: Transition away from fossil fuels - Experiment with streetlight EV charging. We know the technology works but we don't know if it is a viable long-term solution to anything. Design an experiment so that if it's not we don't lose money on it and we learn as much as we can from it. Conclusion/Summary Goals - Focus on getting community-wide buy-in on goals. Analyze the interactions between different goals and strategies, not to resolve the tensions but to manifest them so that we can have that knowledge widely available when making decisions. Resources - State the resources available to us to accomplish the goals, and the tradeoffs inherent in using those resources. For example, 60% of city funding comes from property taxes, so we are incentivized to build more (60% commercial) buildings. There are costs to that which aren't necessarily offset by the financial benefits. Again, we can't resolve that question but we can be explicit about what the costs and benefits are. Safe-to-fail Experiments - In a complex system, predictions tend to be wrong. One way to deal with that is through safe-to-fail experiments, and lots of them! We can learn from them, disseminate the knowledge, innovate, and absorb information from others. We cannot solve climate change from Cambridge alone, so our greatest contribution will be what we learn about what does and does not work.

ATTACHMENTB Actions Actions Ongoing actions CAMBRIDGE ENVISION Near-term actions (< 5 years) Climate & Environment Goals Assess Cambridge's climate risks and vulnerabilities Develop a citywide preparedness and resilience plan • Climate Action: Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 Climate & Environment Strategies & Actions are at greater risk of climate change and environmental impacts. | High High Priority Priority stormwater runoff, and improve the quality of surface water and groundwater. • Waste Management: Minimize waste generation and eliminate landfili waste. Strategy: Establish a technical foundation for preparedness and resilience Climate & Environment Working Group Draft Recommendations space, habitats and vegetation and the reduction of air, light, noise, and toxic pollution. initiatives with the entire Cambridge community (residents, institutions, and businesses). Status Status Existing Strategy: Develop preparedness and resilience plans at the neighborhood and citywide levels Notes Notes • Environmental Protection: Preserve and enhance Cambridge's natural environment, including the preservation of open • Water Quality and Management: Maintain sustainable water resources by taking action to reduce water usage, manage • Community Engagement: Meaningfully engage and share the benefits of strengthening the City's climate and environment • Climate Change Preparedness: Protect the lives and livelihoods of Cambridge community members, particularly those who

Board districts Actions Actions (CCPR) text message) Ongoing actions Ongoing actions CAMBRIDGE ENVISION and private projects. Upgrade City infrastructure Near-term actions (< 5 years) residents and other vulnerable populations placement, floodable ground floors, etc.). an ordinance. Perform design review of private development projects Participate in Arlington Belmont and Cambridge (ABC) Flooding Leverage new communication technologies to alert residents and Establish a cool roof requirement for new construction in all zoning Study regulatory barriers and identify potential leverage points and with neighborhood organizations, service providers, public housing workers, by geography, of risks in the event of an emergency (e.g. Develop neighborhood disaster preparedness plans in conjunction: sources of incentives for adaptive retrofits for existing buildings (utility housing residents with targeted preparedness and outreach programs Specifically serve low-income/high-vulnerability individuals and public High High High High High Medium (Priority Medium Priority New New New Status Existing Existing Existing Notes Notes required. required. funding Operating Capital funding Strategy: Manage flooding and hazards in local water bodies in partnership with neighboring municipalities Strategy: Incorporate design strategies and best practices that reduce climate change impacts as part of public

Actions Actions Actions Ongoing actions Ongoing actions Ongoing actions property owners CAMBRIDGE ENVISION and mitigation strategies Establish a Bicycle Committee Establish a Pedestrian Committee Establish a Public Planting Committee to develop disaster preparedness plans Establish a Recycling Advisory Committee Establish a Climate Protection Action Committee building through the Cambridge Energy Alliance program Implement a food waste education program in public schools incentive programs, and financing for, energy upgrades to their Connect home and business owners with information on existing Conduct outreach campaigns about property-level flood vulnerability Work with neighborhood groups, especially those that offer services, strengthening the City's climate and environment initiatives High High High High High High High High Priority Priority Priority Medium New Status Existing Status Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Strategy: Communicate the City's climate and environment initiatives to the community Notes Notes Notes Strategy: Educate the community about climate change vulnerabilities which can be mitigated by private Strategy: Meaningfully engage the entire Cambridge community (residents, institutions, and businesses) in

Actions Actions Ongoing actions Ongoing actions CAMBRIDGE ENVISION Near-term actions (< 5 years) Long-term actions (10-15 years) regarding environmental programs and issues Implement the Alewife Reservation Master Plan Implement the Charles River Basin Master Plan expansion and tree planting goals by neighborhood Implement the Fresh Pond Reservation Master Plan prioritize locations that improve open space connectivity Establish a coordinated outreach and engagement approach Promote and improve the quality and diversity of public planting implement recommendations from the Urban Forest Master Plan Purchase additional land reserved to be used as open space and Develop an Urban Forest Master Plan that establishes tree canopy Implement the Open Space and Recreation Seven-Year Action Plan High High High High High High High Medium Medium Priority Priority New | New Status Status Strategy: Preserve and expand green and open spaces, and enhance access to parks Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Strategy: Expand the city's tree canopy and promote native plantings and biodiversity Notes Notes required Capital funding

Actions Actions Ongoing actions Ongoing actions CAMBRIDGE ENVISION Implement the Net Zero Action Plan Require buildings to report energy use Regularly update the Climate Action Plan Strategy: Reduce Building Energy Consumption Strategy: Reduce air, light, and noise pollution Combat light trespassing, light pollution, and energy waste interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life in Cambridge Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) to finance retrofits. review to ensure they do not result in noise pollution that could Require new, larger buildings to meet green buildings standards Streamline existing efforts to expand access to energy-efficiency Offer a density bonus incentive through zoning for net zero projects Ensure that new development and infrastructure projects undergo a funding and technical assistance, including supporting expanded use of High High High High High High Medium Medium Priority Priority Status Status Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Expanded Notes Notes

Actions Actions Strategy Ongoing storage systems. Ongoing actions CAMBRIDGE ENVISION Near-term actions (<5 years) Near-term actions (< 5 years) shift and zero emissions vehicles Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VT) Strategy: Transition away from fossil fuels Promote a shift to electric/clean emissions vehicles Strategy: Reduce transportation energy consumption Establish a solar or green roof requirement for new construction Address regulatory barriers to energy storage by participating in Implement the recommendations of the Low Carbon Energy Supply codes and standards as they develop for safe deployment of energy more stringent cap levels for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. storage, and establishing demonstration projects for safety of energy Advocate with state for a stronger Renewable Portfolio Standard and Develop a zero-emissions transportation plan, addressing both mode Implement the Cambridge Community Electricity Aggregation program standards for energy storage systems, adopting safety and performance statewide working groups to develop safety and performance codes and High High High High High High High Priority Medium Priority New New New Status Existing Existing / Status Existing Existing Existing action action action Notes Notes Also a Mobility Also a Mobility Also a Mobility

Actions Actions Ongoing Ongoing CAMBRIDGE ENVISION Restore watersheds management requirements Near-term actions (< 5 years) Near-term actions (< 5 years) Medium-term actions (5-10 years) Require buildings to report water use Conduct water conservation outreach Strategy: Reduce potable water usage Implement the Surface Water Protection Plan Implement the Stormwater Management Plan Require EV charging infrastructure in new buildings Mandate stormwater management for private developments Incorporate green infrastructure into city sidewalk and street Partner with private property owners to go beyond stormwater Procure 100% of municipal electricity from renewable sources Study Cambridge's greywater supply assets and non-potable demand Separate the combined sewer system into storm and sanitary systems Install high-visibility EV charging stations at publicly accessible locations High High High High High High High | High High High High | High Priority Medium Priority New /New | New New | Status : Status Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Existing Strategy: Manage stormwater with public investment in stormwater infrastructure and maintenance Notes Notes funding required. Operating

Actions Actions Ongoing Ongoing and education CAMBRIDGE ENVISION Near-term actions (< 5 years) Long-term actions (=10 years) Medium-term actions (5-10 years) Encourage recycling via single stream Strategy: Remediate Hazardous Waste Prohibit polystyrene food service containers Monitor hazardous waste reporting and remediation ensure adequate space for recycling/organics infrastructure Provide free residential curbside organics collection citywide Develop commercial waste zones with reporting requirements that does not have a disparate impact on low-income communities Require new developments to submit a waste management plan to Mandate and enforce residential and commercial food waste diversion Study the feasibility of different programs to incentivize trash reduction Maximize recycling rates across all sectors by stepping up enforcement Add recycling bins around city in places where there are only waste bins High High High High Priority Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Priority Strategy: Reduce landfilled waste and divert recyclable and organic waste New New - New New Status Status Existing Existing Existing Existing Expanded Expanded Notes Notes required. Capital funding

Actions ground cover CAMBRIDGE ENVISION for a pledge to use them. technologies in Cambridge municipal buildings. Ban pesticide sales through passage of an ordinance. space groundcover to be reserved for native plantings. GHG emissions reductions via the Community Compact. Administer an annual bird count with community volunteers revenue is directed to green infrastructure (stormwater utility) Quantify carbon sequestration potential of the City's tree canopy / Institute competitions in which participants bid to test new building Work with major institutions and employers to have each commit to owners are charged based on impervious surface area and collected Study the feasibility of implementing a stormwater fee, where property Provide reusable shopping bags, water bottles, mugs, etc. in exchange Actions considered but not recommended for implementation Renovate and expand the DPW facility as a Resource Recovery Center Develop a native plantings ordinance, requiring a portion of private open Plan. Notes very low impact. technologies in city facilities term location of the DPW facility by members. All are working to reduce GHG DPW is exploring other opportunities for waste Canopy sequestration potential is already being would impact the few small hardware stores, but handled on a state level. A Cambridge ordinance Concern about introducing untested, new building be evaluated as part of the Urban Forestry Master Better implemented by an environmental nonprofit and administrative burden of creating fee structure will thrive in changing environmental conditions will assessed, but not possible to include ground cover The control of pesticide sales is more appropriately Native tree species and recommended species that City distributes shopping bags, water bottles, etc. at outreach event. Adding a pledge is expected to have exchange, given the uncertainties regarding the long- Anticipated revenues are not matched with regulatory would do little to change the overall use of pesticides. The Compact has a 3-year workplan developed jointly

CAMBRIDGE ENVISION private properties in Cambridge ugiy produce, small plates, trayless dining, food waste app Institute consumer-facing food waste reduction campaigns, including Develop an action plan to enhance habitat for local fauna on public and education around waste reduction. developed areas of the city are unknown. The city already does extensive outreach and This is already a management priority for the Fresh Pond Reservation, and the applicability in other more

ATTACHMENT week) c02e) Albedo water use coverage Indicator (pounds per Tree canopy WORKING DRAFT Percentage of green roofs of emissions (MT household per greenhouse gas Trash collection Citywide potable Community-wide total building area ENVISION CAMBRIDGE (2009) Indicators and Targets Existing / Target when data is available • 2030 Target: 12 Ibs/HH/wk D. Carbon Neutrality: Achieve carbon neutrality Climate & Environment Working Group • Baseline: le 2017) (2008) Baseline: 1.46 million MT CO2e (2012) Climate & Environment Indicators and Targets F. Zero Waste: Minimize waste generation and eliminate waste to landfill • 2030 Target: TBD by the Urban Forestry Master Plan : 2030 Target: 770,000 MT COZ (47% over 2012 baseline) by 2030 : 2030 increase a rat that over than increases in population and employment • Baseline: 28% tree canopy coverage citywide (2014); 30% tree canopy coverage citywide and and Water Goal C. Goal D. Natural Natural Goal A. Goal E. Goal C. Goal A. Catalily Category Resilience Resilience Resources Sustainable as F. Zero Environment Environment Preparedness Preparedness City of Water City of City of City of Source Potential Cambridge Cambridge Cambridge Cambridge Cambridge Community Community Department Department Public Works Public Works Development Development Department of Department of Recommendation conservation and efficiency efforts. separation of organics and other waste streams. Overview: This document contains climate and environment indicators, incorporating feedback from the discussion at the fourth meeting of the Climate & Environment Working Group on November 28, 2017. particularly in neighborhoods that currently lack trees. A. Preparedness and Resilience: Safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Cambridge community members, particularly those that are at disproportionate risk of climate change and environmental impacts Assing urban eat sanicators serve as a proxy for Recommended: This indicator provides insight into the success of actions to expand Cambridge's tree canopy. E. Sustainable Water Resources: Maintain sustainable water resources by taking action to reduce potable water usage, manage stormwater runoff, and improve the quality of surface water and groundwater years determine C. Natural Entenment Peshe and Man a lage atta relie men of stege presence of pens pace til an planese in are rede a in de, a lot on and usinesses Required green roofs The below matrix summarizes the consultant team's recommended indicators for inclusion in the Envision Cambridge plan. The recommended indicators were developed to cover as many as possible of the Envision Cambridge goals: Need to hire Additional consultant to Resources methodology Need to hire way to assess square footage of Need to determine consultant every 3-5

surface impervious non-building and 100-year of flooding (10 Percentage of Percentage of storm) for 2030 land area at risk ENVISION CAMBRIDGE Baseline: 2030 Target: Impervious buildings 4% 2030 10-yr precipitation 5% 2030 10-yr precipitation All other impervious surfaces 15% by 2030 100-year precipitation 13% by 2030 100-year precipitation Summary: Building vs. non-building Total impervious surfaces Square feet 70,926,515 47,940,631 118,867,145 : 2030 Target euce buring in mipes us sutace to 36% by 20300 Acres 2728.8 1628.2 1100.6 area of city land Percentage 26.9% 66.7% 39.8% and and Goal A. Goal A. Resilience Resilience Preparedness Preparedness City of City of Community Cambridge Community Cambridge Department Department Development Development urban heat island. Reconnended Tig tonate provides has to the Recommended: This indicator serves as a proxy for assessing