DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan - Climate Action Plan
SUMMARY:
A briefing on Climate Action Planning and potential next steps.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan is one of three growth-related plans of the City of San Antonio's SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, adopted by City Council August 11, 2016. The Sustainability Plan addresses how the City's expected population growth will be balanced with our social, economic, and environmental resources. The Sustainability Plan articulates the City's Sustainability strategy and serves as a roadmap to make our community and municipal operations more sustainable. http://www.sasustainabilityplan.com
The SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan includes three climate-related appendices:
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory assessed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from community for the calendar year 2014. The results of this assessment indicate the best opportunities to reduce emissions within the community are within buildings and transportation.
The Climate Vulnerability Assessment was developed by bringing together the best available science with a multi-departmental, multi-organizational team of experts from across the city to identify key concerns and evaluate the potential current and long-term climate vulnerability of assets, resources, and segments of the community, such as extreme heat and impacts to vulnerable populations, increased vector borne diseases, and increased flooding.
A Climate Trends and Projections Analysis was completed for San Antonio by world renowned climate scientist, Texas Tech professor, and Texas native, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe. The report provided by Dr. Hayhoe and her team highlighted what scientists know about why climate is changing, and what this means for the future. They analyzed observed trends in Sa...
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