City of Cambridge Hires Office of Sustainability Leader: 4 Things to Know

The City of Cambridge, Massachusetts has hired Julie Wormser as chief climate officer to lead the city’s Office of Sustainability. Here are four things to know about Wormser's experience, and the city's sustainability priorities.

1. About the City of Cambridge: The city, located across the Charles River from Boston, is home to Harvard University and in close proximity to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge's population is roughly 120,000 people.

2. Chief Climate Officer Background: Wormser previously was co-founder of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC) and senior policy advisor to the Mystic River Watershed Association. During her career, she has played a role in securing nearly $140 million in funding for equity-centered and community-engaged climate preparedness projects, the City of Cambridge said. Earlier, Wormser was executive director of The Boston Harbor Association -- which focused on the need for Boston to prepare for coastal flooding.

3. Sustainability Strategy: The city adopted a Net Zero Action Plan in 2015. Next, the city in 2023 adopted an amended Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO), which mandates large, non-residential buildings to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with a net zero requirement by 2035. Also, Cambridge has adopted a Fossil Fuel Free regulation that went into effect in March 2024 and restricts fossil fuel use in new construction or major renovations.

4. Key Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said: "We are thrilled to welcome Julie as our first-ever Chief Climate Officer. The climate challenges we have been tackling have reached critical proportions --- locally, regionally, and globally. Julie’s proven track record of setting clear and bold visions, executing complex projects, and bringing stakeholders together will be invaluable to our efforts. We look forward to Julie's leadership in deepening and expanding our commitment to climate action. With her expertise and passion, Cambridge is well-positioned to continue leading the way in climate resilience and sustainability.”

Added Wormser: "I am honored to join Cambridge as the City’s first Chief Climate Officer. Having lived in Cambridge for most of my adult life, I am deeply committed to the community and its resilience. I am excited to work alongside the dedicated team in furthering the City's climate goals and making a positive impact on the lives of its residents."

Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.