Looks Like That Big Climate Summit in Boston Is Off

Photo by Isabel Leon/Mayor’s Office

It was supposed to be a boon for Boston, one more big get as City Hall courts high-profile events and promotes Boston on an international stage. But now, with a science-averse administration in the White House, Mayor Walsh says the major climate summit slated to be held here this summer is off.

At a news conference where Walsh urged Trump to reconsider withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, the mayor also announced that the federal government has been mum on the 2017 U.S. China Climate Leaders Summit. The event was going to be sponsored by the State Department and “bring thousands of leaders from around the world to Boston,” according to City Hall. But it’s not working out that way. They’re not even taking our calls.

“The administration has just not been responding to us to see if they’re interested in working on bringing folks here,” Walsh said Wednesday.

Boston would have been the third city to host the summit, after Los Angeles and Beijing. Former Secretary of State John Kerry announced it alongside Walsh last year in China.

It’s still possible that Boston will try to host something independently, Walsh told reporters. “I don’t know if it’s viable for this year, but obviously everything is a possibility,” he said.

Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax” and appointed a skeptic to head the EPA, has said he will announce Thursday afternoon whether he plans to ditch the international climate accord.