New Bedford Recognized as Climate Action Leader

New Bedford, MA – The City has been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of the 119 cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency by receiving an “A” score on the 2023 CDP Cities A-List.

Founded in 2000, CDP is a non-profit organization that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts and drive urgent action needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources, and protect forests. CDP’s Cities A-List is based on environmental data and is designed to support and encourage cities to ramp up climate action and ambition. More than 900 cities received a rating for their climate action from CDP in 2023, and slightly more than one in 10 received an A.

According to the CDP, to score an A, a city must disclose publicly through CDP, have a city-wide emissions inventory, and have published a climate action plan, among other categories. It must also complete a risk-and-vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation goal to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. By reporting climate data through CDP each year, New Bedford is transparent about its climate action, tracking progress, monitoring risks, and benchmarking against other cities facing similar challenges.

“New Bedford is committed to addressing proactively the risks posed by climate change,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “Our climate action plan continues to guide our work on renewable energy, energy conservation, and coastal resilience.”

“I am thrilled and gratified that New Bedford’s cutting-edge work and leadership in this emerging area has been recognized on a global level by the CDP,” said Michele Paul, director of the City’s Department of Resilience and Environmental Stewardship. “Our office continues to pursue state and federal funding resources to implement climate mitigation and carbon reduction strategies to capitalize on opportunities to benefit all of the City’s residents.”