DALLAS, TX - The City of Dallas reported measurable progress toward its long-term climate goals, showing an 11% reduction in community-wide greenhouse gas emissions and a 29% reduction in city government operations since 2015, according to the city’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
The inventory measures progress under the city’s Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan and uses 2015 as its baseline year. Dallas has set a goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Greenhouse gases are heat-trapping gases that contribute to climate change. Reducing those emissions is a central objective of the Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan, which is managed by the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability.
City officials said 16 departments are involved in implementing climate actions, including energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy procurement, and expanded waste diversion programs. Those departments span a wide range of city operations, including aviation, water utilities, parks and recreation, transportation, sanitation services, and facilities management.
Although Dallas has tracked greenhouse gas emissions since 2006, the 2023 report is the city’s third comprehensive inventory, following similar reports in 2015 and 2019. Like previous inventories, the 2023 report calculated emissions within Dallas city limits for both the broader community and local government operations. The analysis included emissions from energy use, transportation, waste generation and treatment, industrial processes, and land-use changes.
To assess emissions from city operations, the inventory examined several sectors, including municipal buildings, airport facilities, street lighting and traffic signals, city vehicle fleets, water and wastewater systems, and solid waste services.
“Supportive technologies, stronger policies and keeping our eye on the metrics are critical to reach net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Kathy Stewart, chair of the Dallas City Council Parks, Trails and the Environment Committee. “As this City continues to grow, the reduction noted in this report is significant.”
Kathryn Guerra, chair of the City of Dallas Environmental Commission, said the inventory will help guide future investments and program development as the city works on its next five-year climate action plan.
“The city-wide inventory will definitively measure our progress toward our CECAP emissions-reduction goals and make the work ahead clearer,” Guerra said.
City officials said results from each inventory are used to evaluate overall climate mitigation efforts and shape future strategies. The city also encouraged residents to take part by reducing waste, lowering household electricity and water use, and using public transit.
“I’m encouraged by the results of this plan but note that we are just getting started,” said Angela Hodges Gott, director of the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. She said the city is advancing initiatives such as the Dallas Green Business Certification program, urban agriculture infrastructure grants, and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
City leaders said climate mitigation and adaptation efforts will remain a priority as Dallas continues working toward its net-zero goal.
