In the City of Houston Resilience Plan, the City promised to plant 4.6 million trees by 2030. Houston needs these trees to mitigate the Heat Island Effect which is heating the city more than the surrounding areas because of the
concentration of paving and the lack of trees. There is an urgent need to start planting trees because they take time to grow before they can provide shade and store carbon.

Why the signatures?

We need your support to urge the new Mayor of Houston to embark on fulfilling the City of Houston's tree-planting goal immediately, keeping in mind the necessity to water the trees as well as plant them.

This past summer tells us we have no time to lose.

The message being delivered:

The following letter, along with your signature, will be delivered to the new Mayor and Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer for immediate implementation.

Congratulations Ms/Mr Mayor!
You have been chosen to lead our dynamic city during the second phase of the Resilient Houston and Houston Climate Action Plan. This plan became Houston City policy on Earth Day 2020. Many of the goals set out in
these plans are on their way to being fulfilled.  

We wish to draw your attention, however, to the goal of planting 4.6 million trees (Resilient Houston p. 79) and make you aware that to reach this ambitious goal, it will take a big boost from you.

So far, the City and its partner NGOs have planted 1.4 million trees since 2019. Trees take a long time to grow so the timeline has been shortened from the original 2030 target date to 2025. This leaves 3.2 million trees left to plant in the next three cool seasons. So, there is some urgency.

As you are aware, our climate here has been deteriorating. Three giant floods, two untimely bad cold events, and a decade of the hottest years here ever. This puts strains on all HVAC systems, city water supplies, and our incomes to pay for electricity and water. The lower our income, the worse it is. In addition to the obvious effects of trees in beautification and climate cooling greenhouse gas sequestration, trees can cool all our neighborhoods and the plan addresses that. 

Houston is lucky that we already have many tree-shaded neighborhoods, but we can extend the positive impact of shade to everyone. Moreover trees, unlike many improvements, are cheap to plant and maintain. They produce benefits not just this year, but for decades to come. They deserve to be paid for out of the annual City budget.

We, the undersigned, urge you to embark on fulfilling the City of Houston tree planting goal immediately, keeping in mind the necessity to water the trees as well as plant them.

Please forward this request to your Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer for immediate implementation.

This past summer tells us we have no time to lose.