Climate Change and the Future of Boston

When:
Saturday, Oct 24, 2026 2:00p -
3:00p

Where:
Boston Public Library
Central Library in Copley Square
Boston, MA 02117

EventScheduled OfflineEventAttendanceMode

Admission:
FREE

Hosted by:
bplresearchservices BPL

Categories:
Accessible Spots, Lectures & Conferences, Nature, Rainy Day Ideas

Event website:
https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a4fafa10d65ac36003e7fa8

Join us as author Courtney Humphries discusses her new book on the climate impacts facing Boston and the city’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate.


Like many of the world’s iconic coastal cities, Boston faces potentially severe impacts from climate change. Depending on global emissions, Boston could face several feet of sea level rise this century, which would leave many parts of the city subject to tidal and storm flooding. Precipitation events could become more frequent and extreme, and its already-humid summers could become dangerously hot, with most days over 90 degrees. Today, Boston is a booming city with a growing population, a glittering new waterfront neighborhood, world-class universities and a strong economy. Its future risks and opportunities related to climate change are shaped by the 400-year environmental, social and economic history of the city’s development.


Climate Change and the Future of Boston describes how Boston’s history and current context shape future climate impacts and examines the mitigation and adaptation strategies the city has taken. Boston is a leader in acknowledging the problem of climate change; it has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, among other climate-related goals. It has also developed science-based climate models and undertaken a robust planning process to identify strategies to protect its waterfront from flooding and increase its resilience to other climate-related impacts. Its mayor has embraced a progressive Green New Deal for Boston emphasizing the need for an inclusive and equitable approach to climate mitigation and adaptation. But the city also faces structural challenges, such as aging infrastructure, historic racial inequities, rising gentrification and income inequality and ongoing political and regulatory obstacles that hinder efforts to adapt in an efficient and just manner. She will conclude with a set of forward-looking scenarios about what the future may have in store for the city and the lessons it holds for other coastal cities struggling with these challenges.


Courtney Humphries, PhD, is an interdisciplinary scholar, teacher, and award-winning journalist writing about science and the urban environment.

Share this event

Add to:

Reddit
10/24/2026 14:00:00 10/24/2026 15:00:00 America/New_York Climate Change and the Future of Boston <p>Join us as author <strong>Courtney Humphries</strong> discusses her new book on the climate impacts facing Boston and the city’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate.</p><p><br></...

https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/climate-change-and-the-future-of-boston Boston Public Library, Boston, MA 02117 false MM/DD/YYYY

Sponsored events