- Harrison County, which includes Houston, will work to cut climate emissions from government operations by 40% by 2030 from 2021 levels.
- County has made addressing environmental justice and climate justice a priority in the Climate Action Plan.
- Texas still does not have a state-wide climate action plan, but other state counties are approving their own plans.
By: Grist | January 19, 2023
In a 3-1 vote along party lines last week, commissioners in the most populous county in Texas approved a plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions and advance environmental justice.
The overarching target of the 24-page climate action plan is for Harris County — which includes Houston — to cut its climate pollution from government operations by 40 percent by 2030, compared to a 2021 baseline. To get there, the document puts forward six specific goals, including halving carbon emissions from county buildings and facilities without the use of offsets, electrifying 50 to 75 percent of the county’s passenger vehicle fleet, and cutting the county’s landfill waste in half. It also recommends installing up to 20 megawatts of solar power and 10 megawatt-hours of battery storage by 2025.
The county says it will work with community partners to “address environmental health disparities associated with local climate impacts,” such as heat-related visits to the emergency room.
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