Boston Herald

City’s first climate boss seeing green

Will be paid $195,000

- By Gayla Cawley gcawley@bostonhera­ld.com

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu appointed the city’s first chief climate officer yesterday, a position that essentiall­y replaces the outgoing chief of environmen­t, energy and open space with a $27,693 increase in salary.

Brian Swett, described by the mayor’s office as a “nationally recognized leader in climate change and sustainabi­lity strategy” will be paid $195,000 annually to lead the city’s Environmen­t, Energy and Open Space Cabinet.

He replaces the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, who departs April 26 and per city payroll records was paid $167,307 last year as chief of environmen­t, energy and open space, a position Swett held in Boston from 2012-15.

Swett has contribute­d $3,250 to Mayor Wu, from 2019 to 2023 for her campaigns for city councilor and mayor, per the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, including a $1,000 contributi­on on Dec. 11, 2023. His wife, Lindsey Swett, has contribute­d $1,000, the OCPF states.

“Climate change is the existentia­l threat of our time and I look forward to once again serving Boston residents and working alongside Mayor Wu and the incredibly talented staff at the city,” Swett said in a statement.

He added that he was confident in the administra­tion’s ability to “deliver a decarboniz­ed, climate resilient, and just Boston for current and future generation­s.”

In his new role, Swett will be tasked with “spearheadi­ng the mayor’s bold agenda on climate action while advancing Boston’s commitment to sustainabi­lity, resilience and environmen­tal justice,” Wu’s office said while describing the new chief climate officer position as a “thought leader and communicat­or.”

He will oversee a cabinet that includes the Environmen­t and Parks and Recreation department­s, along with the offices of Historic Preservati­on and Food Justice, and work to develop and co-lead a new Climate Cabinet alongside Boston’s Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia, the mayor’s office said.

“Brian is a visionary leader with a proven track record of taking on climate challenges to improve the health and prosperity of our communitie­s,” Mayor Wu said in a statement. “He brings decades of experience implementi­ng decarboniz­ation, resilience and energy transition programs with environmen­tal justice principles at the core.”

Swett, the mayor’s office states, has more than two decades of leadership experience in municipal government, private sector real estate developmen­t, federal government and nonprofit sectors.

His current position is a principal at Arup, a global engineerin­g, design and consulting firm focused on sustainabl­e developmen­t. His stated expertise includes sustainabi­lity strategy, energy and climate policy, green buildings, policy and program developmen­t, and performanc­e management.

During his prior tenure with the City of Boston, he was credited with leading a variety of major policy and program initiative­s including developing and passing a rental inspection ordinance and Boston’s energy benchmarki­ng ordinance, BERDO, and overseeing an update of the 2015 Climate Action Plan.

 ?? COURTESY — CITY OF BOSTON ?? Brian Swett has been hired as Boston’s first chief climate officer.
COURTESY — CITY OF BOSTON Brian Swett has been hired as Boston’s first chief climate officer.

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