San Antonio is committed to tracking and reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Tracking greenhouse gas emissions provides critical information to advance climate planning while assessing the progress of emissions reduction programs and initiatives. Learn more about our community and municipal emissions.
Climate Change in San Antonio - Greenhouse Gases
The Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases (GHG) are essential to life on Earth as they provide a “blanket” in our atmosphere that traps heat and regulates the Earth’s temperature. GHGs are released naturally in our environment for this very reason. However, when we burn fossil fuels to power our homes, businesses, and automobiles and place material in our landfill to decompose, we increase the level of greenhouse gases. This increase in gases has essentially created a much thicker “blanket”, making it harder for heat to release, reducing in higher global temperatures that have led to disruptions in the Earth’s climate.
Climate Change in San Antonio - Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse Gases
Some GHGs like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20) are naturally occurring, but are enhanced from human activity, such as driving our cars; lighting, heating, and cooling our homes and businesses; and sending waste to the landfill. Other GHGs like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride are man-made.
For more information about GHGs from MIT, visit the following:
The Greenhouse Effect and Us
Climate Change in San Antonio - Greenhouse Gases
How Climate Change Impacts San Antonio
In the past few years, San Antonio has experienced and witnessed extreme events in our region. Because of our changing climate, we can expect this to be more common in our future. Events like these are an indication of this change:
- Hurricane Harvey
- the most expensive hail storm in Texas history (totaling nearly $1.4 billion in losses)
- going from drought to excessive flooding
We are building solutions to prepare our city for climate change. Along with its partners and members of the community, the City of San Antonio has developed a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, SA Climate Ready. Visit our website to learn what we are doing and get involved!
Climate Change in San Antonio - Greenhouse Gases
Feeling the Heat in San Antonio
San Antonio already feels the impacts of climate change, especially during the summer heat. Climate projections show that our future will be hotter and dryer. By 2040, summer maximum temperatures will be 4°F higher on average than they are today—and annually, we will experience 24 more days over 100°F (that is an additional month of high heat) and receive 3” less rain.
Climate Change in San Antonio - Greenhouse Gases
Compounding Effects
By 2040, San Antonians can expect to experience more frequent and longer droughts, less time outdoors due to hotter days and more severe weather and storms. All of these changes will also cause our community to spend more money on cooling our homes and businesses.
San Antonio's Community GHG Emissions
Why We Measure GHG Emissions
Looking at GHG emissions throughout the community helps us understand where there is room for improvement and where our efficiency and reduction efforts have succeeded. The GHG Inventory from 2016 will serve as the City's baseline data by which all future inventories are compared and reduction targets are set.
UNIT | GHGs have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the CO2 equivalent (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (mtCO2e) | MTCO2eMetric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent |
| GHGs have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the CO2 equivalent (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (mtCO2e) | MTCO2eMetric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent |
Community GHG Emissions
Our Targets
Avoiding the most serious climate change impacts will require significant emissions reductions over the next decade. As one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, San Antonio has an added challenge of reducing emissions alongside the projected increase in population. To meet the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, San Antonio has set the following interim goals:
| Target Sector: Percent reduction from 2016 emissions |
2030 | 2040 | 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Emissions | 41% | 71% | 100% |
| Stationary Emissions | 41% | 74% | 100% |
| Transportation Emissions | 47% | 75% | 100% |
| Solid Waste Emissions | 32% | 54% | 100% |
| Water Supply Emissions | <1% | <1% | 100% |
| Industrial Process Emissions | 23% | 56% | 100% |
You can make a difference!
Remember that you, as a customer, can influence the energy choices a retail store makes! All you need to do is tell them you care about energy efficient technologies and sustainable energy supply. CPS Energy even has a program that will help them get started!
Community GHG Emissions
City Accepted into Carbon Disclosure Project's Catalyze Cohort
The Office of Sustainability is one of 12 local governments across the U.S. that was accepted into the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) Catalyze Cohort to build skill sets in project conceptualization, project development, and financing mechanisms in 2022. The CDP cohort will workshop transportation and green infrastructure projects that are seeking financing or develop funding strategies. The cohort is spread across multiple departments including Public Works, Transportation, and Innovation, as well as the Southwest Research Institute, to help spread knowledge and resources cross-functionally.
San Antonio is on CDP’s Cities A List with an A- grade for publicly disclosing a city-wide emissions inventory, an emissions reduction target and renewable energy target, a published a climate action plan, and a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation plan.
Climate Change in San Antonio - Community GHG Emissions
Every San Antonian Can Take Action to Reduce their GHG Emissions!
There are many ways you can reduce your contribution to San Antonio's greenhouse gas emissions.
