Why Act Now?
As global temperatures rise, climate impacts, such as severe flooding, extreme heat, and winter storms, as well as community challenges, such as a growing energy burden and health issues, increasingly threaten St. Louis City, our residents, and businesses.
The Sustainability & Climate Plan addresses both climate mitigation and climate adaptation. As shown in the graphic, climate mitigation reduces emissions that cause climate change, while climate adaptation helps protect and strengthen communities against climate change impacts. Both are equally important for ensuring that communities are resilient and carbon-neutral.
Click to enlarge image.
Climate Impacts in St. Louis City
Since 1990, the global average annual temperature has risen by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in new hazards and exacerbating existing ones. The City’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment in 2018 detailed the top five climate hazards facing our city, including racial and economic equity considerations. The top five climate hazards facing St. Louis City are extreme heat, extreme cold, drought, tornadoes and strong winds, and flooding and rainstorms. Select an image below to learn more about each climate hazard.
What's Driving Climate Impacts in St. Louis City?
Greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide, are gases that trap heat in the earth's atmosphere. GHGs emitted as a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass are warming the earth.
Since 2005, the City of St. Louis has been committed to measuring and reducing the City’s GHG emissions. This 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory is the latest effort to monitor and analyze emissions. Take a look at snapshots from the GHG Emissions Inventory below.
Key Emissions Takeaways:
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Commercial emissions are the top Community emissions
contributor at 38%
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Transportation increased its share of Community emissions
from 17% in 2018 to 21%
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Electricity use accounts for 65% of Community emissions
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Municipal Buildings and Facilities remain the top contributor at 30% of Government emissions
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Electricity accounts for 59% of Government emissions
Benefits of Climate Action
Climate action involves implementing initiatives and strategies to reduce GHG emissions and tackling the impacts of a warmer global climate. These efforts result in additional positive impacts or co-benefits to the community. Some of the key co-benefits of climate action include improved health and well-being, reduced energy burden, improved indoor and outdoor air quality, reduced urban heat, flood resilience, community resilience, and protection of assets and investments. Select an image below to learn more about each climate action benefit.
"Each $1 investment in disaster preparation saves $13 in economic costs, damages, and cleanup."
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2024 Climate Resiliency Report
The Risk of Business as Usual
The cost of continued inaction on climate change is substantial:
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Extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change costed nearly $100 billion in 2020 in the United States.
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In 2024 alone, damage from extreme weather in Missouri exceeded $37 billion.
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In Missouri, the average number of disaster events annually has increased threefold, with an average of 8.2 disaster events annually from 2020 to 2024.
Extreme weather is becoming the new normal. Unfortunately, these issues often have a much greater impact on the Environmental Justice communities with limited access to resources for responding to these challenges.