Climate Action at Historic New England

Climate action has become an essential part of preservation work at Historic New England, not only to protect the historic sites we care for, but to do our part to support resiliency in the communities we are a part of, and aid the greater movement towards a more sustainable world.

Two important climate action planning milestones:

• On September 21, 2023, Historic New England’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve our climate action commitment statement and four climate action goals that serve as our guide for ongoing planning.
• Our commitment statement and climate action goals came out of work as part of the cultural cohort of Boston’s Green Ribbon Commission where Historic New England participated in a yearlong climate action planning process alongside other Boston area cultural institutions.

Commitment statement and goals

Historic New England is committed to addressing the global climate crisis through actions that reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, promote resiliency, engage our communities, and advance climate justice and energy equity by:

• Enacting operational shifts that integrate climate action into the day-to-day operations of Historic New England.
• Achieving carbon neutrality for all Historic New England sites by 2050, continuously evaluating progress and adjusting actions to achieve success.
• Managing our properties to meet our high preservation standards but also adapting those standards to ensure resilience in the face of weather extremes and sea level rise.
• Engaging a broad and inclusive public through robust partnerships, programs, and activities that advance climate justice for all.

Approved by the Board of Trustees, September 21, 2023