First look: 6 areas of focus for a more sustainable Sioux Falls

Jodi Schwan

October 25, 2021

This much has become clear: A lot of people in Sioux Falls are interested in creating a more sustainable community.

An open house last week that offered a first look at the city’s future Sustainability and Climate Action Plan drew about 140 people, which is “really good for an open house,” sustainability coordinator Holly Meier said.

Add to that 1,300 people who took a survey about sustainability this spring and others who have approached Meier, and it’s obvious “there is a lot of hunger in our community for this work,” she said. “People want to do things in this space.”

They also want to see action. Among the survey results:

  • 88 percent of respondents are concerned (46 percent) or very concerned (42 percent) about sustainability and environmental issues.
  • 88 percent are concerned (40 percent) or very concerned (48 percent) about harm from environmental hazards in our region, including water and air pollution, hotter temperatures, flooding, droughts and agricultural pests and diseases.
  • 93 percent state it is important (35 percent) or very important (58 percent) that Sioux Falls addresses sustainability and environmental issues.
  • 84 percent think sustainability and environmental issues affect their life a great deal (39 percent) or a moderate amount (45 percent).
  • 95 percent think sustainability and environmental issues will affect future citizens a great deal (77 percent) or a moderate amount (18 percent).

The open house drew similar feedback, Meier said.

“We heard biking and transit is important, having native landscaping, the desire for energy efficiency in building codes and more renewables in the city,” she said. “We hear a desire for electric vehicles and for the city to be leading on the EV fleet. We heard the desire for more business incentives for businesses to be practicing sustainable methods. We heard a lot.”

Much of it will be incorporated into the action plan, which is in development and scheduled to be done in draft early next year.

But six clear themes already are emerging:

Transportation and land use

An overriding goal of the sustainability plan is reducing emissions — with a target of reducing them by 45 percent by 2030 and becoming net-zero by 2050.

To do that will require addressing transportation, which accounts for 41 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the second highest amount of greenhouse gases behind buildings.

Goals for this area include:

  • Transitioning to electric vehicles.
  • Increasing alternative transportation such as bikes and transit.
  • Reducing vehicle miles traveled.
  • Protecting nature while developing land.

“Those are high-impact goals,” Meier said. “Especially with land use, as a growing community we need to be developing while protecting our natural spaces and our natural resources, so those are high-level components.”

Energy and buildings

Nearly nine in 10 survey respondents said they support or strongly support clean energy sources such as wind and solar, and with 52 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from buildings — from commercial buildings to homes and apartments — that offers significant opportunity to reduce, the city said.

Goals for this area include:

  • Transition to renewable energy such as solar and wind.
  • Make buildings electric and energy efficient.
  • Build sustainable, high-performance buildings.

Community vitality and sustainable living

A strong majority of Sioux Falls residents are already engaging in sustainable practices, with nearly 90 percent reporting they recycle and are trying to use less energy. Two-thirds are reusing items or using fewer single-use items.

Goals for this area include:

  • Create a local and equitable food system.
  • Engage, educate and mobilize the community for sustainability and climate action.
  • Promote sustainable behavior such as reducing and reusing items.

Natural systems

Sioux Falls residents ranked water as their most serious environmental issue and water and natural resources as the top area of focus to improve the community’s sustainability.

Goals for this area include:

  • Improve water quality and conservation.
  • Strengthen our urban forest.
  • Protect and restore biodiversity.

Materials management and waste

Plastic pollution and waste generation are the second and third most serious environmental issues facing Sioux Falls, residents said in the survey.

Goals for this area include:

  • Consume goods and resources sustainably.
  • Reduce garbage and food waste.
  • Increase recycling.

Sustainable economy

Nearly all survey respondents — 95 percent — think sustainability and environmental issues will affect future citizens a great deal or a moderate amount.

Goals for this area include:

  • Develop and increase sustainable business practices.
  • Support green industry, jobs and workforce development locally.

What’s next

Want to share your thoughts on this topic? Learn more and click here to comment.

The comment period will be open until Nov. 4. Once the plan is finalized, there will be another chance to comment before it goes to the City Council for approval.

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