Four environmental facts Houston people ought to be aware of.

Houston Related Facts

Houston has a number of nicknames that have wider health implications for the area, including Space City, Clutch City, Medical Capital, Bayou City, Energy Capital of the World, and Vehicle City. Urbanization and population increase have produced the greatest economic boom in history, resulting in the creation of jobs, access to essential resources, and recreational areas.

However, this growth has also had considerable negative effects on the environment, particularly the quality of the air and water as well as natural resources. Future extreme weather might also be affected by the area's proximity to the effects of climate change. Plan a trip to this amazing city of Houston so book a cheap flight from Detroit to Houston and enjoy your days here!

1) The industrial greenhouse gas emissions in the Greater Houston area total roughly 68 million metric tons.

Houston, the "energy capital of the world," is responsible for 61.2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, making it a substantial contributor to the production and management of dangerous greenhouse gases. Road traffic and energy consumption were temporarily decreased by the COVID-19 epidemic, but Houston-area greenhouse gas emissions are still on the rise, emphasizing the significance of energy capital in reducing climate change.

In the three-county area, industrial establishments' greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 3% between 2011 and 2017, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Biogenic carbon dioxide (C02) emissions fell by 40% while non-biogenic emissions fell by 3%. Emissions of methane and nitrous oxide rose by 6% and 2%, respectively. Methane emissions have grown 22% since 2017 while biogenic CO2 has decreased 44%, contributing to a 2% increase in overall greenhouse gas emissions.

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2) The reliance on automobiles in our area is growing

Due to the Greater Houston area's reliance on automobiles, industrial facilities are responsible for 28.9% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The proportion of households in the Houston region with at least one automobile grew from 2010 to 2017 to 94.7%, above the national average of 91.4%. The fact that Houstonians are buying more cars and spending more time in them shows how dependent we are on them.

Between 2010 and 2017, the percentage of households with three or more vehicles in the three-county area grew by 38%, more than double the 15% national growth rate. This leads to higher than average commute times, with 13.3% of three-county residents reporting 60-90+ minute daily commutes. Houstonians often prefer driving or walking, as public transit and walking aren't practical options for most residents. In Fort Bend County and Montgomery County, fewer than 5% of households live within ¼ mile of a public transit stop. Although Harris County has improved due to METRO efforts, most households remain out of walking distance, resulting in only 2.3% of Houston-area workers commuting on public transit, less than half the national rate.

In comparison to Fort Bend County and Harris County, which have 4.4 and 7.6 miles of linked sidewalk per square mile of land, Montgomery County has less than 0.6 linear miles of sidewalk per square mile of land. Making the area more walkable must be a top priority for Greater Houston's expansion strategy.

3. Farmland and wetlands decrease with expanding built land.

The development of 1,800 square miles of land in Greater Houston has changed how natural resources are used. In all three counties, the proportion of developed land rose by 18–19% between 2001 and 2018. In Fort Bend County, farmland dropped from 59% to 15%, while wetland and woodland lost share, falling to 10% and 4%, respectively. Additionally, pasture and grassland grew across the region, which means that the amount of developed land will rise in the future. This is because newly created grassland frequently prevents further development in formerly forested regions.

4. Greater Houston faces climate change-related challenges.

Greater Houston has experienced four federal disasters in the past five years, including Hurricane Harvey, which caused over $100 billion in damages. As climate change continues to rise, the city must prepare for even more extreme rains, highlighting the importance of addressing the issue of extreme rains in Houston. If you want to know more about Houston, book DTW flights from Detroit to Houston.