Boston Building Emissions Performance Standard: A New Community-Designed Climate Justice Ordinance
2020-2021
Boston Environment and NRDC contracted 1SW in a project to develop a new policy to cut carbon pollution from large buildings. 1SW, alongside key partner Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), designed and led a stakeholder engagement process with community organizations City Life-Vida Urbana, Chinese Progressive Association, New England United 4
Justice, and Right to the City Boston, to convene residents most impacted by building emissions in key neighborhoods as co-designers of this new climate justice ordinance in the city.
It includes a proposal for an oversight board that has a composition of majority residents and community organizers.
Video still from 35,000 Square Feet and Rising animation. Art by Lily Xie + María Fong.
The BERDO 2.0 ordinance
Signed into effect in 2022
The Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance establishes that buildings that are 20,000 square feet and larger are required to meet targets that put them on track to the citywide goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Community members most impacted by environmental justice in Boston were decision-makers in this process, and we ensured that these policies benefit and reduce harm to residents.
The ordinance has been called Boston's "single most important initiative" to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
— Boston.com
Residents building
policy!
Art by Lily Xie + María Fong.
ART AS STRATEGY. In 2022, the BERDO 2.0 ordinance succeeded in the City of Boston. As part of this work, we collaborated with local Boston artists to produce a script and animations about the key issues related to this particular ordinance, informed by the experience of community members. 35,000 Square Feet and Rising is a 4-part climate justice animated series.
Animations based on community expertise
35,000 Square Feet and Rising. Act 1.
35,000 Square Feet and Rising. Act 2. Sabrie's speech.
35,000 Square Feet and Rising. Act 2.
35,000 Square Feet and Rising. Act 3.
Climate justice animation for a new building emissions policy in Boston was made by: Script by Vatic Kuumba. Animation by María Fong + Lily Xie. Director/ Production by Shey Rivera. Sound Design by Nicholas Sollecito. March, 2021.
Boston Building Emissions Performance Standard
Policy Toolkit 2021
Hello Organizers! Thank you for your support on the Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) ordinance. Please use this toolkit to organize for this climate justice issue of reducing building emissions in our neighborhoods and improving the buildings where people live. In this Toolkit, you will find an email invite, social media copy, script for phone calls, and social media graphics that you can use to mobilize your community to get City Council to pass this ordinance.
Download the English BEPS Toolkit
Download the Spanish BEPS Toolkit
Download the Chinese BEPS Toolkit
With the support of
