Bellevue's Bold Climate Commitment

Reframe

Jennifer Ewing is the Sustainability Manager for the city of Bellevue, WA.

In this episode of Reframe, show host Jeff Nichols speaks with Jennifer Ewing, Sustainability Manager for the City of Bellevue, Washington. Jennifer has spent nearly a decade leading local sustainability initiatives, outlining strategies for Bellevue’s future and collaborating with regional partners—all in the pursuit of defining and achieving Bellevue's ambitious climate goals. The conversation explores Bellevue’s sustainability strategy and delves into the complex balancing act between growth, climate action, and community priorities.

Local Government is Where Change Happens

Jennifer describes how Bellevue’s sustainability efforts grew out of the city’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative. Initially focused on tree canopy preservation and natural environment protection, the program evolved in the mid-2000s to align with national and international climate goals, including commitments to carbon neutrality. Jennifer was drawn to Bellevue after prior work in consulting and urban planning, inspired by the idea that cities are uniquely positioned to tackle climate change locally while connecting to regional and global challenges.

The discussion emphasizes the critical role of local governments. Bellevue influences land use, transit-oriented development, and community engagement in ways that directly shape emissions and climate resilience. Jennifer notes that residents tend to trust local government more than state or federal entities, giving cities a stronger platform to engage people more directly in climate solutions. Still, she stresses that achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 requires action at all levels, including federal, state, and local, as well as collaboration across city borders.

Vision and Stewardship Driven to Action

Jennifer outlines Bellevue’s Sustainable Bellevue Plan, which addresses both city operations and community-wide emissions. The city has committed to net-zero emissions by 2040 for its own operations—ten years ahead of its community goal. Examples include a partnership with Puget Sound Energy to secure renewable energy, building retrofits, and electrifying city fleets. On the community side, Bellevue has launched programs such as Energy Smart Eastside, which helps homeowners adopt energy-efficient heat pumps to cut carbon and improve resilience during extreme heat.

When asked about her greatest challenges, Jennifer cites the difficulty of balancing multiple city priorities—climate action, affordable housing, transportation, and more, while demonstrating that sustainability initiatives complement, rather than conflict with, these goals. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling, community engagement, and partnerships in building support and securing funding, as resources are typically limited.

Jennifer concludes with advice for other cities starting sustainability programs—beginning with cost-saving improvements in government operations, leveraging peer networks, and demonstrating quick wins that build credibility. She also reflects on her biggest learning from local government—complex problems require nuance, patience, and collaboration, even when urgency is high.

Jennifer’s perspective underscores that cities like Bellevue are on the front lines of climate action. By integrating sustainability into both operations and community planning, engaging residents directly, and collaborating across regions, local governments can drive meaningful change.

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Reframe is hosted by Jeff Nichols and presented by Pilotlight.