Boston mayor declares heat emergency at 86 degrees, blames climate change

Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu declared a heat emergency for September 7-8, 2023, and blamed climate change for what she described as "extreme heat."

"High temperatures will reach into the 90s, with the heat index expected to reach the high-90s," the mayor said in a press release. “The impacts of climate change are more palpable than ever, with extreme heat posing risk to our communities,” she continued.

“Although extreme heat affects Bostonians of all ages, with the new school year starting, our Boston Public Schools staff will be following protocols to ensure our kids have an enjoyable, safe first week back at school. I’m grateful to our City employees who are working tirelessly to support residents, and ask residents to take precautions.”

The mayor was out checking in on Boston schools before 9 a.m. on Thursday, a local Boston25 news report noted, at which time the temperature was just 86 degrees, according to the Weather Network.

In fact, a local forecast predicted only 88 degrees as the daytime high earlier that morning. The same temperature was the projected high for the second day of the supposed heat emergency as well.

The real issue the city faced during the increased temperatures was the heat inside Boston public schools, as many still do not have air conditioning.

NECN reported school closures and early dismissals at local schools despite 3,000 air conditioning units being installed in schools in the last year. That reportedly left approximately 14 buildings with fans only, as their electrical systems cannot handle an air conditioning system.

The mayor reportedly said that there is a bigger picture at hand.

"The City of Boston is taking critical immediate action to provide heat relief, including short-term, actionable steps toward relief during heat waves," she said in her press release. "The City of Boston has been engaging in a variety of projects to support extreme heat mitigation and improved health for residents."

One such project is a plan to ban "fossil fuels" in new, city-owned buildings after teaming up with the city's director of the Green New Deal just a month prior.

The executive order was announced in a press release and claimed the move would reduce "emissions from Boston’s building sector while creating high-quality jobs, improving public health and quality of life, and advancing racial and economic justice."

The mayor has also noted her Heat Plan, which she described as "26 strategies that will help build a more just, equitable, and resilient Boston."

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