25. • Transportation & Natural ResourcesTravis County (Travis County)

Consider and take appropriate action on the Fiscal Year 2025 Travis County Sustainability Report. (Commissioners Shea and Howard)

Presented in: Travis County Commissioners Court Voting Session on 2026-08-04

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

Travis County has a long history of setting goals and taking action on environmental protection, stewardship, and sustainability. Notable Travis County Commissioners Court environmental actions include:<div style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;'><ul style="margin-bottom:0in;"><li style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family: initial;">In 1995, passing a resolution to establish the County as a governmental leader in environmental protection;</li><li style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family: initial;">In 2015, passing a resolution to implement recycling in all County departments and offices and to establish the Green Team;</li><li style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family: initial;">In 2020, adopting the County’s first Climate Action Plan for internal operations. The purpose of the Plan was to provide a guide for County departments and decision makers to take swift and systemic action to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help mitigate the climate emergency; and</li><li style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family: initial;">Also in 2020, setting a goal for County operations to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2030.</li></ul></div> In April 2026, the Commissioners Court approved an Update to the Climate Action Plan for Travis County Operations. The updated Climate Action Plan is a collection of strategies and goals aimed at lowering our carbon footprint as an organization, and is intended to guide departments on how to implement greener business practices in the following eight categories: Air Quality, Culture, Energy, Nature, Purchasing, Resiliency, Waste, and Water. Since 2012, TNR staff have prepared an annual report that summarizes ongoing County-wide sustainability efforts and green business practices, including the Greenhouse Gas Inventory for County operations. The FY25 Sustainability Report includes the GHG inventory and reports on operational practices for the eight categories from the updated Climate Action Plan: Air Quality,