St Paul, MN Climate Action & Resilience Plan
While climate change poses many challenges, it also presents great opportunity to create a more livable and equitable city. In Saint Paul, 36% of households spend more than 4% of their income on home energy costs. Low-income residents and residents of color are more likely to live in neighborhoods without sufficient natural amenities like an adequate tree canopy. Streets in these neighborhoods, in some cases, have poor walkability and bike infrastructure and/or lack access to quality transit. Many climate solutions are also equity solutions. As the city looks to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we will need to reduce energy consumption in homes and commercial spaces, create a workforce to respond to the challenges, provide multiple options for mobility, and strengthen our urban forest. Where and how these solutions are implemented matters. Creating a more equitable Saint Paul is key to the success of this plan.
Summary
For a community to improve its resilience, it must know what its vulnerabilities are. Climate change has the potential to have major impacts on people, the economy, and infrastructure — both built and natural. Certain populations, infrastructure, and natural assets can be more vulnerable to shocks and stresses depending on various factors including social characteristics, condition, and environment. For individuals, both situational and inherent characteristics, such as age and preexisting conditions, determine vulnerability. Geography, including proximity to highways and roads, vegetation, and water also vary the local and individual experience of climate change.
Options Considered
The following resilience actions were considered in the development of this plan. To explore other resilience actions that may be applicable to your community, visit the complete Options Database.
7 Steps to Define Your Business Process by Stefano Borghi. Used via CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, via Google.