Audit throws shade at city’s efforts to mitigate extreme heat

A new report from the Office of the City Auditor concludes that, while the city has made notable progress in preparing for extreme heat, challenges in coordination, funding and measurable planning continue to undermine long-term resilience.

The audit, released this week, evaluates whether the city is adequately planning for heat-related risks to public infrastructure. The findings indicate that while strategies such as tree planting, cool pavement pilots and long-range utility planning have improved the city’s resilience, gaps remain in turning those strategies into fully integrated and measurable actions.

Using a tool developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assess the maturity of a city’s heat resilience, auditors found that Austin’s efforts rate between 3 and 4 on a 5-point scale for both natural and physical infrastructure. That places the city in the middle of the scale, reflecting a range of ongoing efforts, but not yet reaching systemwide integration or equity-focused outcomes.

Austin’s natural infrastructure, such as tree canopy and park access, has expanded in recent years. Tree canopy stood at 41 percent in 2022, and the share of residents with park access grew from 64 percent in 2019 to 70 percent in 2024.

However, as the report notes, canopy coverage remains uneven, with West Austin enjoying significantly more shade than East Austin, and wealthier neighborhoods having more trees on average. Staff also noted that maintenance funding for public trees has remained stagnant in recent years, limiting the long-term effectiveness of planting initiatives.

On the physical infrastructure front, programs led by Austin Energy and Austin Water aim to enhance grid and water system resilience. A pilot program for heat-reflective pavement is also underway, but the audit found the city has fallen short on citywide infrastructure upgrades. The audit said the city hasn’t ensured that vulnerable populations, including those without housing, have adequate heat-safe accommodations.

The audit highlights three core limitations in the city’s current approach: a lack of measurable targets, insufficient funding and inadequate cross-departmental coordination. Many goals, such as those in the city’s Heat Resilience Playbook, are described as aspirational. In addition to the playbook, multiple department-level and citywide plans contribute to Austin’s long-term heat mitigation strategies.

Without clear metrics or timelines, staff may struggle to monitor progress or adjust course. Tree planting programs, for instance, rely heavily on fluctuating mitigation funds and lack sustained maintenance funding.

Although multiple city departments contribute to heat preparedness, from Parks and Recreation to Development Services, the Office of Climate Action and Resilience plays a coordinating role yet lacks the authority to mandate departmental action or enforce accountability. Staff described current coordination efforts as fragmented, with departments operating independently and without a unified system for accountability.

In response to the audit, the Office of Climate Action and Resilience agreed to prioritize actions from the Heat Resilience Playbook, assign lead departments for each, and link efforts to measurable targets. The proposed implementation date for these reforms is October 2025. The office is working with Resilient City Catalyst, a national nonprofit, to assess which actions to fund and advance based on feasibility, impact and equity.

Related to extreme heat and climate change concerns, in December City Council unanimously adopted Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan to 2035. This plan prioritizes reliability, affordability and environmental sustainability, addressing the city’s growing energy demands and the impacts of extreme weather events. The plan includes measures such as phasing out coal, increasing renewable energy sources and enhancing energy efficiency.

The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force, which was established to guide this process, has been evaluating a range of climate-focused projects for possible consideration in the package expected to go before voters.

While specific allocations for extreme heat mitigation are still under consideration, the task force continues to refine the list of bond-eligible projects, with a focus on readiness and community impact, to ensure that investments effectively address Austin’s climate challenges.

Photo made available via CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

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