Public review begins of climate plan

Whitefish’s draft Climate Action Plan is now available for public review and comment through Monday, March 19.

It is posted on the city of Whitefish Public Works website at http://www.cityofwhitefish.org/public-works/climate-action-plan.php. The Climate Action Plan Committee is seeking public input especially on substantive issues, goals, strategies and actions in the draft plan. Public comments should refer to relevant page numbers in the plan. Please send comments to Mariah Gladstone at the city of Whitefish, mgladstone@cityofwhitefish.org.

Final revisions to the draft plan will be completed by March 28, and it will be submitted to the Whitefish City Council for a work session and a public hearing on Monday, April 2.

The climate action plan establishes a foundation for Whitefish to strengthen local resilience to future climate change impacts and to make the transition to a clean energy economy.

The two fundamental goals of the plan include:

- Understand and prepare: This plan identifies the key trends and scientific projections for what a warming, more-volatile climate means for Whitefish over the next 20-30 years and beyond. It presents a pathway for solutions, such as becoming a fire-adapted community and protecting our water. It presents strategies to safeguard public health, property, and economic vitality.

- Reduce emissions: The city of Whitefish, alongside nearly 400 U.S. cities and 195 nations, has committed to keep global average temperatures from rising more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This plan emphasizes energy efficiency, local production of clean energy, and conservation of carbon-rich forests and soil.