City’s first climate boss seeing green
Will be paid $195,000
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.