The City of Boston
The City of Boston is the both the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the US. The city is approximately 124 km with a population around 655,884 until 2014. (United States Census 2014) It is selected as the case study city because of its distinctive similarities to the City of Sydney as well as its relevance to the research topic.
Similar to Sydney, Boston is also surrounded by an ocean coastline on three sides which appears to be highly vulnerable to sea level rise. Boston was once a small isthmus back in 1630. The city started to expand by land-filling in the coastlines and river shorelines. More land space is created for development of residential, commercial and retail. (Krieger, A. & Green L,J. 1985) The interesting history of urban development gives the portion of city area the lowest elevation of Boston, almost at sea level. This makes the City of Boston extremely vulnerable to sea level rise.
Similar to Sydney, Boston is also surrounded by an ocean coastline on three sides which appears to be highly vulnerable to sea level rise. Boston was once a small isthmus back in 1630. The city started to expand by land-filling in the coastlines and river shorelines. More land space is created for development of residential, commercial and retail. (Krieger, A. & Green L,J. 1985) The interesting history of urban development gives the portion of city area the lowest elevation of Boston, almost at sea level. This makes the City of Boston extremely vulnerable to sea level rise.
Figure b. Topography of Boston (City of Boston 2013 p.11)
The City of Boston is always active in climate action and has global leadership due to its significant successful action plan. Boston was ranked as No.1 city for energy efficiency programs and policies in the country in 2013. Both Boston and Sydney were invited to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. (City of Boston 2014 p.10)
Reference
Krieger, A. & Green L,J. 1985, Past Futures, Two Centuries of Imagining Boston, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, USA
Newman, J., Springer, M., Sheehan, Slaughter, S., T., Gravelin, J., Trouche, L., Wilson, A., 2013, Building Resilience in Boston, Linnean Solutions, The Built Environment Coalition & The resilient Design Institute, Viewed 16 Aug 2015
http://www.greenribboncommission.org/downloads/Building_Resilience_in_Boston_SML.pdf
United States Census, 2014, Boston Population 2014, Viewed 15 Aug 2015
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/error.xhtml
City of Boston, 2014, Greenovate Boston 2014 Climate Action Plan Update, City of Boston, Viewed 10 August 2015
http://www.cityofboston.gov/eeos/pdfs/Greenovate%20Boston%202014%20CAP%20Update_Full.pdf
Newman, J., Springer, M., Sheehan, Slaughter, S., T., Gravelin, J., Trouche, L., Wilson, A., 2013, Building Resilience in Boston, Linnean Solutions, The Built Environment Coalition & The resilient Design Institute, Viewed 16 Aug 2015
http://www.greenribboncommission.org/downloads/Building_Resilience_in_Boston_SML.pdf
United States Census, 2014, Boston Population 2014, Viewed 15 Aug 2015
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/error.xhtml
City of Boston, 2014, Greenovate Boston 2014 Climate Action Plan Update, City of Boston, Viewed 10 August 2015
http://www.cityofboston.gov/eeos/pdfs/Greenovate%20Boston%202014%20CAP%20Update_Full.pdf