22-04-2025
City of Austin highlights falling greenhouse gases, increased park space in State of Our Environment Report
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is celebrating Earth Day by highlighting the state of the city's environment in a new report released on Tuesday.
It's all part of the city's efforts to meet the needs of a bustling community, without compromising Austin's natural spaces and environmental protections, according to a press release by the Watershed Protection Department.
The 2024 State of Our Environment report shows that, despite the boom in population Austin has seen in recent years, the city's greenhouse gas emissions have significantly declined since its peak in 2011.
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In 2024, Austin added over 500 acres of parkland, and the Water Quality Protection Lands Program reinstated 1,673 acres of native grassland savanna, per the release.
The city's detailed report shows an improvement in Austin's air quality saw in 2024, compared to 2023 – with the city showing a decrease in the number of days when higher ozone levels and high particulate matter levels were present.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines particulate matter as 'a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air,' such as dust, smoke, dirt or soot. Although 2024 brought a decline in the number of days with high particulate matter levels, several of those days had more severe levels of particulate matter in the air compared to 2023.
The city noted in its findings that its report is not considered official until the data has been certified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The 2024 State of Our Environment report shows greenhouse gas emissions are on the decline in Austin, but the city says there's still a lot of work to do to reduce the strain on Austin's natural resources. The report shows that in order for the city's environment to thrive, it must drastically reduce those emissions.
In 2024, Austin secured a total of $242 million in federal funding to implement changes and expand climate action across both the city, and the wider Central Texas region.
According to 2024 data by the Urban Forest Inventory and analysis (Urban FIA), Austin's urban forest features about 12.2 million trees with a trunk diameter of 5 inches or more.
The report shows larger trees take up a major portion of Austin's urban tree canopy – with sizeable trees providing shade to much of the area, and improving the city's air quality.
The Urban FIA has identified 67 tree species in the Austin area – with native species dominating the list.
Ashe Juniper: 30.2%
Cedar Elm: 18.1%
Texas Persimmon: 6.9%
Live Oak: 6.8%
Sugar Berry: 4.6%
The State of Our Environment report says in 2024, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) acquired more than 500 acres of parkland. The acquisition expanded the Austin area's existing greenbelts, while also purchasing and saving new land for future parks.
Some of the new public areas were transferred to PARD through a partnership with the Watershed Protection Department (WPD). According to the city, WPD helped identify sites that previously were only used for water quality and floodplain management, but could be used for things like trails and recreational areas. WPD said the properties maintain watershed protection functions, but now serve the wider community as available outdoor space.
'It's no secret to people who already live in Austin that Central Texas is a beautiful place to call home, in no small part because of our natural resources,' Liz Johnston, the Interim Environmental Officer for the Watershed Protection Department said.
'Families continue to move here, and the city remains dedicated to development that preserves our natural landscapes. Through policies that support affordable housing and environmental protections, Austin is not only meeting the needs of its expanding population but also ensuring that future generations will benefit from clean air, water, and open spaces.'
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