UMass President speaks on climate tech and the ambitions of Massachusetts
Amidst federal cutbacks for university research, New England Council member, University of Massachusetts (UMass), recommitted to helping Massachusetts become a hub for climate-tech innovation and economic development. In his 2025 State of the University Address, UMass President Marty Meehan—a New England Council Board Member—stated that he believes it is a critical time for UMass to put its research and teaching efforts to work. The UMass community will accelerate its projects and help Governor Maura Healey reach innovative climate solutions while advancing Massachusetts’ competitive position.
President Meehan tasked all chancellors at the five UMass campuses to develop economic development strategies that align with the state’s climate-tech goals, including those laid out in the Mass Leads Act that was passed late last year. Many efforts are already underway, such as UMass Dartmouth’s work on sustainable fisheries and water treatment and purification research at UMass Amherst.
“UMass . . . will be the engine that drives the state’s economic ambitions, as we’ve been for 160 years,” President Meehan said in the address. “We will educate the climate tech workforce, cultivate technology development and commercial activity, help climate tech companies scale in our core research facilities, and our campuses will anchor the climate tech corridors outlined in the state’s strategy. . . .we will establish Massachusetts as a national model for how to integrate decarbonization, climate resiliency, economic development, and social mobility.”
The New England Council commends the University of Massachusetts for its efforts towards climate resiliency and economic development.
Read more via Boston Globe and UMass News.