San Antonio not on track to be carbon-neutral by 2050 goal
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San Antonio officials once set a grand goal: for the city and its residents to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Nearly a decade later, they're not on track to make that happen.
Why it matters: The 2050 goal was based on scientific understanding that cutting carbon emissions by then would stave off some of the worst impacts of climate change, Doug Melnick, assistant director of the city's Department of Resilience and Sustainability, tells Axios.
- Climate change is already causing more heat waves and extreme temperatures, something San Antonians feel during the summer.
The big picture: Like other cities, San Antonio's emissions have stabilized — they actually peaked in 2013 — despite the city's population continuing to grow, Melnick says.
- But emissions haven't dropped by much.
What they're saying: "Most cities that are sort of like San Antonio — that are of our similar density — are all sort of in the same boat," Melnick says. "I think the cities that have been ratcheting their emissions down a little more tend to be cities that have much more density" because they offer residents strong public transportation options.
- But local agencies are making progress, he says, pointing to VIA's work to open rapid bus lines.
Catch up quick: The City Council set the carbon-neutral goal in 2017. In 2019, the council adopted the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, setting out ideas for how to get there.
The latest: The plan calls for regular updates, which is what officials are working on now. They're compiling goals for 2035 that will offer more detailed priorities.
- Melnick says the city can still get back on track to become carbon-neutral by 2050, and officials are keeping the goal in place.
Zoom in: Debra Ponce, a San Antonio-based climate justice organizer with nonprofit Public Citizen, sits on an advisory committee that is helping to update the plan.
- "The original Climate Adaptation Plan was a great piece of work and not completing the items in that plan would be deeply concerning," Ponce tells Axios.
- But updating the plan is challenging, Ponce says, citing new technology — including data centers with their own gas plants and even air taxis in the future.
- "We don't have a clear picture of the pollution impacts all these developments could have yet," Ponce says.
State of play: City initiatives aimed at reducing emissions include installing solar on city buildings and adding electric vehicles into city fleets.
- City programs also aim to mitigate the impacts of climate change and extreme heat. Those include planting trees, installing "cool" pavement that absorbs and releases less heat, and installing "cool" roofs meant to reduce air conditioning costs for residents.
Zoom out: Still, much of the work to become carbon-neutral will rest on CPS Energy, the city-owned utility.
- The CPS board approved a new power generation plan this year as demand soars. The utility is getting closer to meeting climate goals, but it's still off track to meet its emissions targets for 2040, even as it phases out coal.
Reality check: City officials project that temperatures will rise in San Antonio even if emissions remain at the status quo.
Zoom out: Several large U.S. cities are also struggling to meet their climate goals.
- Boston similarly aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050, with the goal of cutting emissions in half by 2030. Past research has found the city off track for the 2030 goal, and the mayor released an updated plan this year that looks to discourage driving.
- Austin has pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2040, but lags behind its goals, the Austin Free Press reported.
What's next: Officials hope to have a draft 2035 plan to the City Council by the end of the year.
The bottom line: "I never thought it was going to be easy," Melnick says of the 2050 goal.