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Higher Education Working Group

The Green Ribbon Commission Higher Education Working Group (HEWG) leverages the higher education sector’s capabilities for climate action by sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration and supporting policy change within and across sectors to support the City of Boston in meeting its climate goals. 

Boston is home to one of the highest concentrations of higher education institutions in the country. Higher education institutions can play a unique role in informing, facilitating, and accelerating the climate transformation.  Their research knowledge can inform investments and regulatory decision making; their students can provide the critical skills needed by private and public stakeholders to support implementation; their campuses can act as “living labs” to test out innovative climate solutions; and their political influence can help inform and advance needed public policy changes.

Chair

Current Initiative

The HEWG is currently focused on accelerating the decarbonization of member heating and cooling systems and advancing the development of more robust Thermal Energy Networks in the Boston area.

View recordings here.

Participating Organizations

Boston University, Emerson College, Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University, U Mass Boston, Emerson College

Contact

Additional Working Groups

Health Care

The Health Care Working group unites leading healthcare facilities in the Greater Boston to catalyze; a focus on energy efficiency, the transition to renewable energy, and advocate for the significant health benefits of carbon mitigation to patient and home communities.
Learn more

Cultural Institutions

The Cultural Institutions Working Group comprises a wide variety of arts, sports, nature-based, historic, and entertainment organizations in and near Boston, as they build awareness and drive action on climate issues on behalf of their own organizations, the cultural sector, the City, and audiences.
Learn more

Boston Grid Modernization

The Boston Grid Modernization Working Group convenes cross-sector representatives to help inform and facilitate better coordination, planning, and implementation processes as it relates to future infrastructure investments.
Learn more