{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Reframe","title":"Bellevue's Bold Climate Commitment","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2583,"description":"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...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/9o7rM5JoeVRWthCIlYN0254rAnp3ZfUYiTaRgmyChbc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82ZjEw/M2U3ZWY4MWZiYzcx/MTRjNDE2MDUxMzdi/ODNmMy5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}