Tag Archives: climate change
Here's what you should do if a wildfire threatens your home
Lee esta historia en español Dry grass, wind and relatively low humidity mean a fire can spread easily and be difficult to control. All it takes is a spark from a metal lawnmower blade hitting a rock, a loose chain…
Fire • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Aug 11, 2023
Triple-digit temps expected through Friday – and summer hasn't even officially started yet
It’s another day of excessive heat in Central Texas. Temperatures are expected to go into the triple digits – again. And the heat index, which is a combination of the heat and humidity levels, is expected to hit 120. The National Weather…
Environment • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Jun 21, 2023
Austin moves to prepare for climate disasters
City Council passed a resolution at its June 16 meeting to create a disaster preparedness guide and toolkit for the city. The guide, which will be part of the city’s climate response efforts, will instruct residents on how to create local resilience…
City Council • By Veronica Apodaca • Jun 24, 2022
Resilience hub initiative continues to evolve
Winter Storm Uri, the extreme weather event that left an unknown number of Austin residents dead last February, inspired the initiative to create resilience hubs across the city that would act as a public resource in times of crisis. The initial…
Public Health • By Willow Higgins • Nov 16, 2021
Hotter, stormier, droughtier: What to look for as meteorologists update 'normal' weather for Austin
Lee esta historia en español. When you hear a weatherperson mention Austin’s average high temperature or rainfall next month, the numbers will be different. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is updating what it considers “normal” weather throughout the country.…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Apr 27, 2021
County launches Civilian Climate Corps to create green jobs
The Commissioners Court approved a resolution Tuesday to create the Travis County Civilian Climate Corps, sharing the goals of a city initiative created last May, the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps, to create green jobs and redress pandemic-era unemployment. Commissioners Anne…
Resources • By Seth Smalley • Apr 22, 2021
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Commissioners identify reliance on electric vehicles as weakness in revised Climate Equity Plan
Transportation is the main driver of local air pollution and is on its way to becoming the single greatest source of greenhouse gases in Austin. Though the city and Capital Area Metropolitan Transportation Authority are taking steps to electrify their…
Environment • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 15, 2020
The Office of Sustainability releases draft Climate Equity Plan
The Sustainability Office released its new revised Climate Equity Plan for public comment Wednesday, with hopes to submit the plan to City Council in October. The 97-page document, which is available through the city’s engagement portal, outlines the Sustainability Office’s…
Environment • By Savana Dunning • Sep 4, 2020
City could store three Lake Austins' worth of water underground by 2040
Austin gets all of its water from the Highland Lakes, but that might not always be the case. The city recently took a first step toward storing massive amounts of water underground. If the plan works, it could help Austin…
Water • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Aug 31, 2020
City reworks its Community Climate Plan through an equity lens
Five years ago, Austin’s Office of Sustainability began implementing its 2030 Community Climate Plan in order to work toward the city’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Now, the department is revising its plan to update metrics and…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 9, 2020
Travis County approves its first climate action plan
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a comprehensive climate action plan that outlines how to reduce the county’s environmental footprint through 82 recommendations. Commissioner Brigid Shea, who called the plan a “big deal,” told the Austin Monitor…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 3, 2020
UT professor maps climate vulnerability in Austin
Communities within Austin are disproportionately affected by climate change based on their social vulnerability. Social vulnerability refers to a community’s sensitivity to natural hazards and community members’ capacity to rebound from natural disasters. In a study by Patrick Bixler with…
