Massachusetts Lawmakers Face Scrutiny as Federal Climate Rollbacks Threaten State Goals
BOSTON, MA – As former President Trump moves to dismantle federal climate policies, Massachusetts lawmakers are under increasing pressure to ensure state transportation spending aligns with ambitious emissions reduction targets enshrined in the Global Warming Solutions Act. Despite the looming threat of federal inaction, the state continues to grapple with a significant gap between climate commitments and budgetary allocations, leaving critical transit projects unfunded and perhaps jeopardizing Massachusetts’ ability to meet its long-term environmental goals.
Massachusetts’ Global Warming Solutions Act mandates specific reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,yet current transportation funding priorities remain unclear regarding their impact on those targets. The MBTA, still burdened by billions in deferred maintenance accumulated under previous administrations - facing a $24.5 billion shortfall for necessary repairs – also sees its most ambitious expansion plans largely unfunded.
“States like Massachusetts not only have the space to act, they have a legal and moral responsibility to do so,” stated Seth Gadbois, an attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation. “Right now we don’t have a check against whether our transportation dollars are helping or hurting our climate targets.”
To address this accountability gap, a coalition of lawmakers led by Sen. Cynthia Creem of Newton and Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis of Framingham are championing the “Freedom to Move Act.” The bill would compel MassDOT to prioritize spending that supports the pollution reduction mandates outlined in the Global Warming Solutions Act. Similar legislation has already been enacted in Colorado,Washington, and Minnesota.
“Freedom to Move aligns state level transport policy and spending with our climate obligations… It’s a big policy alignment shift that will ultimately expand the menu of options for how people get around,” Gadbois explained.
When questioned about her support for the Freedom to Move Act at a recent event, Transportation Secretary monica Tibbit-Nutt declined to comment on whether MassDOT had taken a position.
A public hearing on the Freedom to Move bill is scheduled for September 16 at 1 p.m. before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation. Further information is available here.
