Community Impacts

The neighborhoods surrounding Crane Ledge Woods, our neighborhoods, are home to predominantly Black and Brown residents, a large percentage of whom are immigrants. The city identified us as Environmental Justice populations due to our inequitable access to green spaces, disproportionate suffering from the impacts of climate change, and other systemic issues that harm the health and wellbeing of already marginalized and underserved communities. 

Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience

Climate Ready Boston sees climate adaptation as key to the city’s resilience. However, the plan’s coastal focus lacks equity as most Environmental Justice populations are inland. In order to advance Environmental Justice, the city must make climate adaptation equitable. Doing so requires the political will to acquire green infrastructure for inland climate resilience.

Heat islands are a rising climate threat facing cities. If fires on the west coast cause haze in Boston, the short distances between heat islands in Boston makes them a city-wide issue. Mitigating existing heat islands must not come at the cost of creating new ones. The unparalleled loss of tree canopy in Hyde Park impacts neighborhoods across the city.