A message from MBTA for Earth Day!
Climate Change and Sustainability at the MBTA
The MBTA plays an important role in helping to reduce emissions in Massachusetts—a transit system that meets the needs of the 21st century, helps get people out of their cars, and supports good land use in Greater Boston.
To meet the transportation needs of our region, the MBTA uses many forms of energy: electricity, natural gas, diesel, steam, and other carbon-based fuels. We seek to reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment whenever possible.
The MBTA’s Environmental Management & Sustainability Policy lays out the MBTA’s guiding principles to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air quality impacts
- Diligently maintain and exceed environmental compliance at our facilities
As of January 2021, 100% of the MBTA’s system is powered by certified renewable electricity.
Our climate change strategies are designed to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of a changing climate by building a resilient system.
Climate Change Resiliency
While we work to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, climate change will continue to impact public transit in Greater Boston.
Extreme weather events—heavy rain, storm surge, and sea level rise—can delay or disrupt service, threaten the health and safety of our customers and employees, and increase the cost of repair, maintenance, and operations. These events are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity in the next 50 years.