SAN ANTONIO — The increase in extreme weather events has some Texans concerned about climate change, and community leaders are calling out the problem in search of solutions.

What You Need To Know

  • In 2023, San Antonio set a record for the number of days where the temperature was above 100 degrees

  • Last year, a chief resilience officer was hired to prepare the City of San Antonio to respond and adapt during disasters

  • And hotter temperatures are affecting metros across Texas. Most residents in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas live in urban heat islands

  • With growing energy demands and unpredictable weather, energy expert Doug Lewin fears there could be consequences if our state won’t confront the reality of climate change

“Definitely seeing the impacts of climate change in San Antonio,” DeeDee Belmares said.

Belmares was born and raised in the Alamo City. As a clean energy advocate, she’s pushed for the city to use more renewables like wind and solar, “to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and also to ensure we have clean air and clean water.”

She’s also raising awareness about extreme weather. In 2023, San Antonio set a record for the number of days where the temperature was above 100 degrees.

“We had like over 60-80 days of triple digit weather,” Belmares said.

Last year, Chief Resilience Officer Laura Patiño was hired to prepare the City of San Antonio to respond and adapt during disasters.

“Every time there’s a major disruption, the most vulnerable are often set back,” Patiño said. “They don’t bounce forward, they are further set back.”

CPS Energy plans to shut down its last coal plant in 2028 — a move Belmares advocated for. She hopes the city follows its climate action plan to become carbon neutral by 2050. 

“It’s time for us to look at the measures inside the plan and start implementing them,” Belmares said.

And hotter temperatures are affecting metros across Texas. Most residents in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas live in urban heat islands.

“I think if you ask anyone who works outside, a construction worker, somebody who takes the bus, they are definitely feeling it,” Belmares said. “And they know that climate change is here.”

With growing energy demands and unpredictable weather, energy expert Doug Lewin fears there could be consequences if our state won’t confront the reality of climate change.

“Demand from data centers and electrification of transportation like EVs and all that stuff, but what they aren’t talking about is how much more power we’re going to need because it’s going to be so much hotter in the summertime,” said Lewin, who is the host of the Energy Capital Podcast.

With direction from experts and city leaders, Belmares hopes San Antonio continues to prepare for what’s coming.

“We do need to be resilient, but most of all we need to stop it,” Belmares said.