Spurred into action by Winter Storm Uri, City Council has moved to establish emergency hubs across the city where residents can go during a natural disaster to find food, water and shelter – belatedly acting on plans from two years ago. The city, working with community groups, will pilot six of these “community resilience hubs” […]
City of Austin Climate Protection Plan
Austin Energy’s plan to make the city the lead in the fight against global warming. The plan’s goals included powering all city facilities with renewable energy by 2012 and making the city fleet carbon-neutral by 2020.
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental directory includes so much more
The Austin Environmental Directory 2017-18 is on its way to 15,000 Austin households. This is the ninth iteration of the directory, which serves as a primer on a wide range of topics, including watershed protection, challenges to clean energy, natural gas and the environment, and the Austin Community Climate Plan. And it’s free to the […]
Posted inResources
City announces recycling-education campaign
Austin residents are sending a lot of recyclables to landfills, and city staff hopes to help change that with a new educational campaign. Austin Resource Recovery Department Director Bob Gedert made the announcement at a press conference on Monday. “The fact is that more recyclables are going to the landfill than are being recycled in […]
Posted inAustin
Council adopts net-zero community climate plan
City Council voted 8-2 Thursday to adopt the 2015 Austin Community Climate Plan to achieve citywide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Council members Don Zimmerman and Ellen Troxclair opposed. Council Member Delia Garza is on maternity leave. Under the resolution, City Manager Marc Ott will be directed to implement recommendations from the community climate plan and […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Committee seeks to create zero emissions plan
A recent study by climate scientists predicts dire consequences for the Austin region if it does not act to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the next 20 to 30 years. The National Climate Assessment says temperatures in Central Texas could rise by an average of 3 to 4 degrees and average rainfall rates could […]
Posted inResources
Climate change report prepared for Austin predicts weather extremes
The first indications of how climate change likely will affect Austin in the coming decades are beginning to emerge. A just-completed report by City of Austin staff sets out some sobering scenarios of potential future conditions. Extremes of heat, drought and floods that have occurred in the region in recent years are likely to become […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Resources
Riley proposes goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
A resolution set for approval by Austin City Council members today would set a goal “of reaching net zero communitywide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050” – sooner if possible. The document, brought forward by Council Members Chris Riley and Bill Spelman and Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, lays out a path to the establishment of […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Local Politics
Leffingwell votes against climate protection clause in CAMPO plan
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell found himself Wednesday defending a controversial vote to take references to climate protection and greenhouse gas emissions out of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2040 plan. Leffingwell told In Fact Daily that he cast his vote with an eye toward preserving regional harmony. An original supporter of Austin’s Climate […]