Plan

St Paul, MN Climate Action & Resilience 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.

Year

2024

Details

Hazards Addressed

Air Quality

Extreme Heat

Flooding – Rainfall-induced

Assets

Transportation and Mobility

Urban Landscape and Tree Canopy

Water Infrastructure – General

View the Plan

Equity Insights

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.

Lessons Learned

The city recognizes that this Climate Action and Resilience Plan is a living document; just as it was shaped by community input, it needs to continue to evolve as Saint Paul grows and the needs of its citizens change in response to a changing climate. A desire to stay informed on implementation and progress on climate action was frequently heard through the public comment period. To ensure that the Plan maintains its relevance and applicability, the city should continue to engage the community.