Community GHG Emissions
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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.