Ceres applauds Massachusetts legislators and Gov. Charlie Baker for coming together to pass and sign into law ambitious, bipartisan climate change legislation that aims to ensure the commonwealth achieves its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
"The Next Generation Roadmap is the commonwealth’s most comprehensive climate legislation in more than a decade, and an impressive achievement that is more than two years in the making. We commend Gov. Baker and legislative leaders for their collaboration and ambition to ensure the commonwealth acts swiftly to reduce emissions across all sectors of our economy,” said Alli Gold Roberts, director of state policy at the sustainability nonprofit Ceres.
In addition to codifying the state’s net-zero emissions goal, the legislation sets interim emissions reduction targets of at least 50% by 2030 and 75% by 2040, based on emissions levels from 1990, to ensure the state is on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It also includes an increase to the Renewable Portfolio Standard that will speed up the adoption of renewable energy by requiring 40% of the states electricity needs come from renewable sources by 2030, an update to the state’s appliance efficiency and building electrification codes, and a number of provisions that address equity issues and ensure community representation in future state planning.
“The Next Generation Roadmap matches the urgency of the climate crisis with a suite of bold climate policies that will greatly improve the commonwealth’s ability to build a thriving and inclusive net-zero emissions economy while protecting our most vulnerable communities,” Roberts added. “Investors and companies in Massachusetts advocated in support of this legislation because they recognize the necessity of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Ceres applauds business leaders, community organizers, public health groups and advocates for coming together to build a sustainable future for our commonwealth.”
The Massachusetts Legislature first approved a version of the Next Generation Roadmap last session, which Gov. Baker initially vetoed. Legislators quickly refiled and passed the legislation at the start of the 2021 legislative session, allowing Gov. Baker to offer amendments to the legislation, which aligns with his administration’s commitment to a net-zero emissions future for the commonwealth.
Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.