Environmental Justice

Councilor Louijeune fights to achieve environmental justice for all City residents, which must include advocating for racial justice. At the City level, we must reevaluate our environmental justice investments by looking at what we have control over: urban spaces, public transportation, and resilient infrastructure.

During her two terms Councilor Louijeune worked to: 

Improve sustainable usage of urban spaces

  • Legalize beekeeping. In partnership with local beekeepers, Councilor Louijeune passed an ordinance and amendment to the Boston Zoning Code on the keeping of honeybees. Under the amended zoning code, the pathway for the future beekeepers of Boston is simplified, allowing residents and businesses to register and host beehives.

Local beekeepers like Hyde Park’s Val Mayo helped lead the push to legalize beekeeping in Boston. Thanks to their advocacy, Councilor Louijeune and her colleagues passed a law that makes urban beekeeping more accessible with just a $25 permit.

Create accessible and equitable public transit

  • Increase access to affordable transportation. Councilor Louijeune signed a letter addressing transit and climate justice, which supported the elimination of bus fares and affordable public transportation in Boston. 

  • Expand transit equity. The Councilor signed a letter to support the expansion and electrification of service on the Fairmount Line, which improved transportation access and transit equity for Boston residents. 

    • Additionally, the Councilor introduced a resolution declaring February as Transit Equity Month to promote and support transit equity

Build resilient and adaptable infrastructure

  • Protect against floods. Protecting the city’s vulnerability to increased flooding from global warming due to its coastal position and co-sponsoring an order for a hearing on coastal resilience strategies on Boston’s waterfront. 

  • Create economic opportunities for residents. Co-sponsoring a hearing on establishing a municipal climate bank in Boston. The Councilor understands the urgency of creating long-term investment strategies in green infrastructure, while also acknowledging the capacity of green projects to create economic opportunity for our residents.

This image is of a group of seven people standing together outdoors on a sunny day, posing near what appears to be a solar panel installation. Councilor Louijeune is at the center with Mayor Wu and other community advocates.

The Solarize Eastie program uses a group buying model to reduce costs for residents and secure a discounted price per watt. In partnership with GreenRoots, Mayor Wu, Rev. Mariama White-Hammons, ACE Solar, and the Boston City Council, Councilor Louijeune supported this pilot initiative designed to increase solar panel accessibility. 

  • Support of solar panels. The Councilor supported the implementation of Solarize Eastie, a pilot program to increase solar panel installation and onsite battery storage. This partnership will create equitable and accessible entry into the solar economy.