Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) appears to be somewhat actively engaged on Boston and Massachusetts climate policy. The Chamber has supported renewable energy policy and the decarbonization of the transportation sector, but advocated for weaker ambition around emissions reduction and the phasing out of fossil fuels. Furthermore, the Greater Boston Chamber is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, which is actively and negatively engaged on climate policy in the US.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has limited but generally positive top-line messaging on climate policy. The Chamber broadly supports the city’s goals of net-zero by 2050 and appears to recognize the need for climate action, making reference to the economic impacts and business threats of climate change in March 2021 comments on the Mass Clean Energy and Climate Plan and a 2020 briefing. In a January 2021 Tweet the Chamber shared its support for the Biden administration’s decision to re-enter the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policy: The Chamber has advocated for government investment in renewable energy. In October 2022 comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Chamber expressed support for an offshore-wind energy project, Revolution Wind. It has also supported investments in various forms of renewable energy at state level including the Clean Energy Investment Fund in an August 2023 letter to Governor Healey and various legislative packages including a Massachusetts House Bill in a May 2022 statement. The Chamber has opposed a number of specific GHG emissions regulations, including short-term action and sector based emission sub-limits in November 2020 testimony to the Climate Conference Committee and energy use reporting requirements in a June 2022 letter.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Citing economic concerns, the Chamber opposed fossil fuel-free construction and renovation standards in a September 2022 letter to the City Council President Flynn. The Chamber also supported amendments weakening the ambition of the Stretch Energy Code in a February 2021 letter to the Senate and House and August 2022 comments to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The Chamber supported improved electric vehicle infrastructure in both April 2022 comments and a June 2022 letter to the Conference Committee on Offshore Wind & Climate Legislation.