42
4.4.6 SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG6
Data
N
Minimum
Maximum
Mean
Houston
Deficit water stress
Index
98
0.0
79.9
6.5
8.1
Source: (Espey et al. 2018). Deficit Water Stress Index 2009 data
The Water Stress Index value for the Houston
metro was 8.1  in 2009. This index follows the
amount of average annual rainfall needed to
remove water stress from an area. Houston does
not perform as well as the average metro in the
country which has a stress index of only 6.5. The
best performing metros for the country were
Manchester, New Hampshire; Palm Bay, Florida;
Charleston, South Carolina; and Seattle,
Washington, each with a water stress index of 0.
Houston ranks 75th in the country on this
indicator.
4.4.7 SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG7
Data
N
Minimum
Maximum
Mean
Houston
Low carbon energy
generated
%
100
3.8
85.9
35.1
22.8
Source: (Espey et al. 2018). Low carbon energy generated 2016 data
The Houston metro reported a 22.8% generated
energy from low carbon sources in 2016. Low
carbon is defined here as wind, solar, geothermal,
biomass, hydroelectric, and nuclear. This was
below the national average of 35.1%. The 2030
SDG target for low carbon energy generated is
78.7%. The Seattle and Spokane metros both
exceed the 2030 target with an 85.9% low carbon
generated energy mix. Houston ranks 65th in the
country on this indicator.
4.4.8 SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG8
Data
N
Minimum
Maximum
Mean
Houston
GDP growth
%
100
−0.7
6.6
2.0
2.9
Jobs STEM
%
100
5.9
22.1
11.9
11.9
Unemployment
%
100
2.3
9.3
4.3
5.1
Disconnected youth not
working
%
94
7.7
21.6
13.5
14.2
Source: (Espey et al. 2018). GDP Growth 2011–2016 data. Stem Jobs 2016 data. Unemployment 2017 data. Disconnected
youth 2015 data
D. B. Abraham