Massachusetts is currently the only state in New England that does not have some type of commission looking at the cost and funding solutions necessary to protect against and avoid risks posed and expenses incurred by climate change.
While it is nearly impossible to predict how the session will end, legislative leaders have expressed an interest in tackling some significant policy issues including tax revenue, housing and climate change.
The Massachusetts House crossed one of Speaker Robert DeLeo’s priority bills off its list Wednesday with the unanimous passage of a bill to establish a new grant program to help cities and towns confront climate change impacts and to borrow more than $1 billion to pay for it.
The House is expected on Wednesday to debate and vote on legislation Speaker Bob DeLeo has championed to provide $1 billion over 10 years to help cities and towns prepare for and adjust to climate change.
The governor and House speaker each have a similar plan to provide $1 billion over 10 years to help cities and towns prepare for and adjust to climate change, though the speaker wants to borrow the money while the governor is proposing a specific tax increase to fund his program. At a hearing Monday, activists and lawmakers suggested a third option – how about doing both?
Addressing climate change through mitigation and adaptation will require massive amounts of funding and collaboration between federal, state, local, private and philanthropic entities.
