As part of its climate action strategy, MIT seeks to advance the development of renewable energy systems off-site that contribute to the campus’ climate action goals, as well as drive research, education, and collaboration.
Connecting with our urban partners
The challenges of sustainability – from bike infrastructure to climate resiliency – do not end at our campus’ boundaries. Meanwhile, the intellectual pool of problem solvers in the Boston and Cambridge region is rich and diverse. As an urban campus that stretches along the banks of the Charles, we seek to leverage MIT’s unique potential to serve as a partner and as a physical test bed for urban solutions to climate change.
The cities of Cambridge and Boston have a long history of coming together with partners from higher education, business, industry, and the nonprofit community to advance leading-edge climate and sustainability initiatives like the Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future, the Net Zero Action Plan, the Kendall Square Ecodistrict, the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, as well as a broad range of transportation, waste management, and climate vulnerability efforts. Find out more about our collective efforts below.
Working together on groups and committees
Members of the MITOS team serve on a number of groups and committees in partnership with the Cities of Cambridge and Boston, including:
MITOS and City Focus Areas
Cambridge Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC)
MIT serves on the City of Cambridge Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) as a key avenue for ensuring continued alignment of campus climate activities with City-wide initiatives. The Committee membership is composed of community members who take an active interest in climate change issues in Cambridge and who live or work in Cambridge.
Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future
The Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future strives to create a more healthy, livable and sustainable Cambridge community by addressing global environmental challenges together. The City of Cambridge, Harvard University, and MIT founded the Cambridge Compact in 2013 and has 20 members comprising building owners and operators in Cambridge along with several strategic non-profit organizations.
Boston Green Ribbon Commission
The Higher Education Working Group of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission represents the unique constituency of large research and residential campuses in Boston and neighboring cities including Cambridge. Colleges and universities have a significant footprint in the greater Boston area, as well as a particular set of sustainability challenges.
Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan
In December 2013, the City of Cambridge created the “Getting to Net Zero Task Force” charged with advancing the goal of putting Cambridge on the trajectory towards becoming a “net zero community,” with focus on carbon emissions from building operations. This includes reducing energy use intensity of buildings and taking advantage of opportunities to harvest energy from renewable sources.