Official Resolutions, Pledges, Recognitions and Partnerships

2003 Cities for Climate Protection Campaign City Council adopted a resolution to join the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, an initiative of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Through this resolution, the Council pledged to take a leadership role in promoting public awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change, while also undertaking a program to reduce both greenhouse gases and air pollution in the city.
2005 Clean Renewable Municipal Electricity

City Council adopted a resolution that set a goal of purchasing 20% of electricity for municipal uses from clean, renewable sources by 2010, and encouraged residents and businesses to choose the clean energy option on their own energy bills.

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2005 U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Worcester Mayor Timothy P. Murray signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,  which committed the City to strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets (7% below 1990 levels by 2012). The Agreement was re-affirmed in 2009 by Mayor Joe O'Brien.
2011 Green2Growth Summit

The City co-hosted with National Grid a "Green Today – Grow Tomorrow" Worcester Energy Summit focused on Sustainability.
2012 Better Buildings Challenge Partner Worcester became a U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge Partner by publically pledging to reduce municipal energy use 20% by 2020, and being nationally recognized for the City’s energy reduction successes.
2012 EPA's Green Power Partnership Worcester joined the EPA's Green Power Partnership and was designated a Green Power Partner as a result of its commitment to purchase green electricity above 20% of its municipal electrical usage. In April 2015, EPA included Worcester in a Top 30 Local Government list, which is comprised of the largest green power users among local government partners within the Partnership.
2018 Worcester City Hall's Designation as a Green and Healthy Building In June 2018, Worcester City Hall earned a Green Clean Institute’s (GCI) certification as a Green and Healthy Building. The general goals of a green cleaning program in a building is to reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, and the environment.

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