Climate, Environment, and Parks

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Climate: Existing concept, to be emphasized more (possibly as a new chapter)

The City of Bellingham has long been committed to working towards our vision of a sustainable, equitable, and healthy community where current and future generations can thrive. In response to rapid climate change caused by human activity, our city has already taken bold and immediate action to reduce and prepare for the human health and environmental impacts of climate change. Learn all about Bellingham’s climate action and our key strategies here.

Bellingham’s 2016 comprehensive plan includes a number of goals and policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in several chapters. This is because climate change is relevant to every topic in the comprehensive plan: housing, land use, transportation, economic development, and more. Now, the state is mandating that cities across Washington also take action. House Bill (HB) 1181 (2023) requires the inclusion of a climate element in the comprehensive plan, that focuses on both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its main impacts on comprehensive planning include:

  • A new requirement for a climate change element, consisting of a greenhouse gas emissions reduction sub-element and a resiliency sub-element (these could be located within a separate chapter or spread throughout the plan).
  • Requirements to address the impacts of climate change and reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (Bellingham has already adopted a Climate Protection Action Plan that addresses many of these requirements).
  • Requirements to equitably enhance climate resiliency (Whatcom County has adopted a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan that addresses many of these requirements).

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

Fortunately, the City has already adopted several goals and policies in our 2016 Comprehensive Plan related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and many climate initiatives or actions are already underway. Therefore, this update will mostly focus on ensuring compliance with HB 1181 and building upon our existing framework by including any relevant goals and policies that are missing from our existing comprehensive plan – especially related to climate resiliency. City staff are contemplating “Climate” as a new stand-alone chapter in the Bellingham Plan, although climate-related goals and policies will still be prevalent as an important theme across all chapters.

Environment: Existing chapter

The environment section of the Comprehensive Plan focuses on Bellingham’s treasured natural features. These natural features provide many benefits to visitors and residents alike, including but not limited to recreation, wildlife habitat, healthy air and water, and astounding beauty. Bellingham considers itself an environmental leader and aims for sustainability and a balanced approach to the environment, economy, and people.

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

The city’s natural environment influences many Bellingham Plan topic areas. Community members value protecting and investing in the environment, which will influence conversations about land use, transportation, housing types, and more.

The Bellingham Plan’s environment section will be updated to align with the City’s Urban Forestry Management Plan (UFMP). The UFMP is a strategic plan that aims to maintain a healthy and desirable urban forest through coordinated, efficient, and sustainable management. The goals and policies of the Bellingham Plan with be updated accordingly.

Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (PRO Plan): Existing chapter, updated separately in 2026 through its own project

The City's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PRO Plan) is a part of the Comprehensive Plan. This document guides the preservation and expansion of the park, recreation and open space system as the community grows. The PRO Plan meets Growth Management Act requirements to “retain open space, enhance recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks and recreational facilities” (RCW 36.70A.020(9)). This document must be updated every six years for the City to remain eligible for a number of important grants that help support our high-quality parks and recreation services. As a result, this chapter is updated separately from the rest of the Comprehensive Plan. However, parks-related topics will still be discussed in this update as they overlap with other chapters of the plan.

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

The City’s 2020 PRO Plan will be updated again in 2026 – shortly after the adoption of the Bellingham Plan in 2025. The Bellingham Plan will consider parks-related topics as they overlap with other chapters of the plan. The revised PRO Plan will then reflect any relevant changes and will be integrated into the Bellingham Plan in 2026.

Related Events:

The climate topic is prevalent at most of our Bellingham Plan Open House Events. At these events you will hear about new climate-related requirements in the Bellingham Plan and how climate is essential to our community’s future vision. Choices about our future land use, housing, and transportation (and more) are all informed by our community’s dedication to a sustainable, equitable, and healthy community – now and into the future. Sign up for all of these events here.

The environment and parks topics were contemplated at our first event (“Community Vision”) and will be part of our last event (“How We Will Grow”), as we discuss sustainable growth into the future. “Vibrant, Equitable, and Welcoming Community” took a deeper dive into Parks, Recreation, and Open Space – an important part of Bellingham’s unique identity. “Housing Types & Neighborhoods” touches on neighborhood amenities and greenery that will make living in Bellingham more livable and sustainable. Finally, “How We Will Grow” includes weighing various growth approaches based on their impacts on the environment, housing, people, and more.


The Bellingham Public Library is partnering with WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute and Center for Community Learning to bring our community together to talk about sustainability, and you're invited! Please join us to share your hopes and challenges related to creating a more sustainable region and meet others doing inspirational work. We’ll leave with new connections and opportunities for action!

Here are the Forum dates and areas we'll focus on:

Powering a Sustainable Future - Thursday, April 18, 2:30-4:00 pm

The Future of Work - Thursday, May 2, 2:30-4:00 pm

Constructing Resilient Communities - Thursday, May 16, 2:30-4:00 pm

Toward a Fair and Just Future - Thursday, May 30, 2:30-4:00 pm

Forums are free and open to all. Snacks provided! No registration required. If you would like to receive calendar invitations to this series of forums, click here to complete a simple form. Please share this invitation with your colleagues and neighbors!

All of the Forums will take place in the Lecture Room on the lower level of the Central Branch of the Bellingham Public Library (210 Central Ave). Please note that car parking at the Library is metered until 6:00 pm.

Climate: Existing concept, to be emphasized more (possibly as a new chapter)

The City of Bellingham has long been committed to working towards our vision of a sustainable, equitable, and healthy community where current and future generations can thrive. In response to rapid climate change caused by human activity, our city has already taken bold and immediate action to reduce and prepare for the human health and environmental impacts of climate change. Learn all about Bellingham’s climate action and our key strategies here.

Bellingham’s 2016 comprehensive plan includes a number of goals and policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in several chapters. This is because climate change is relevant to every topic in the comprehensive plan: housing, land use, transportation, economic development, and more. Now, the state is mandating that cities across Washington also take action. House Bill (HB) 1181 (2023) requires the inclusion of a climate element in the comprehensive plan, that focuses on both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its main impacts on comprehensive planning include:

  • A new requirement for a climate change element, consisting of a greenhouse gas emissions reduction sub-element and a resiliency sub-element (these could be located within a separate chapter or spread throughout the plan).
  • Requirements to address the impacts of climate change and reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (Bellingham has already adopted a Climate Protection Action Plan that addresses many of these requirements).
  • Requirements to equitably enhance climate resiliency (Whatcom County has adopted a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan that addresses many of these requirements).

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

Fortunately, the City has already adopted several goals and policies in our 2016 Comprehensive Plan related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and many climate initiatives or actions are already underway. Therefore, this update will mostly focus on ensuring compliance with HB 1181 and building upon our existing framework by including any relevant goals and policies that are missing from our existing comprehensive plan – especially related to climate resiliency. City staff are contemplating “Climate” as a new stand-alone chapter in the Bellingham Plan, although climate-related goals and policies will still be prevalent as an important theme across all chapters.

Environment: Existing chapter

The environment section of the Comprehensive Plan focuses on Bellingham’s treasured natural features. These natural features provide many benefits to visitors and residents alike, including but not limited to recreation, wildlife habitat, healthy air and water, and astounding beauty. Bellingham considers itself an environmental leader and aims for sustainability and a balanced approach to the environment, economy, and people.

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

The city’s natural environment influences many Bellingham Plan topic areas. Community members value protecting and investing in the environment, which will influence conversations about land use, transportation, housing types, and more.

The Bellingham Plan’s environment section will be updated to align with the City’s Urban Forestry Management Plan (UFMP). The UFMP is a strategic plan that aims to maintain a healthy and desirable urban forest through coordinated, efficient, and sustainable management. The goals and policies of the Bellingham Plan with be updated accordingly.

Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (PRO Plan): Existing chapter, updated separately in 2026 through its own project

The City's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PRO Plan) is a part of the Comprehensive Plan. This document guides the preservation and expansion of the park, recreation and open space system as the community grows. The PRO Plan meets Growth Management Act requirements to “retain open space, enhance recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks and recreational facilities” (RCW 36.70A.020(9)). This document must be updated every six years for the City to remain eligible for a number of important grants that help support our high-quality parks and recreation services. As a result, this chapter is updated separately from the rest of the Comprehensive Plan. However, parks-related topics will still be discussed in this update as they overlap with other chapters of the plan.

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

The City’s 2020 PRO Plan will be updated again in 2026 – shortly after the adoption of the Bellingham Plan in 2025. The Bellingham Plan will consider parks-related topics as they overlap with other chapters of the plan. The revised PRO Plan will then reflect any relevant changes and will be integrated into the Bellingham Plan in 2026.

Related Events:

The climate topic is prevalent at most of our Bellingham Plan Open House Events. At these events you will hear about new climate-related requirements in the Bellingham Plan and how climate is essential to our community’s future vision. Choices about our future land use, housing, and transportation (and more) are all informed by our community’s dedication to a sustainable, equitable, and healthy community – now and into the future. Sign up for all of these events here.

The environment and parks topics were contemplated at our first event (“Community Vision”) and will be part of our last event (“How We Will Grow”), as we discuss sustainable growth into the future. “Vibrant, Equitable, and Welcoming Community” took a deeper dive into Parks, Recreation, and Open Space – an important part of Bellingham’s unique identity. “Housing Types & Neighborhoods” touches on neighborhood amenities and greenery that will make living in Bellingham more livable and sustainable. Finally, “How We Will Grow” includes weighing various growth approaches based on their impacts on the environment, housing, people, and more.


The Bellingham Public Library is partnering with WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute and Center for Community Learning to bring our community together to talk about sustainability, and you're invited! Please join us to share your hopes and challenges related to creating a more sustainable region and meet others doing inspirational work. We’ll leave with new connections and opportunities for action!

Here are the Forum dates and areas we'll focus on:

Powering a Sustainable Future - Thursday, April 18, 2:30-4:00 pm

The Future of Work - Thursday, May 2, 2:30-4:00 pm

Constructing Resilient Communities - Thursday, May 16, 2:30-4:00 pm

Toward a Fair and Just Future - Thursday, May 30, 2:30-4:00 pm

Forums are free and open to all. Snacks provided! No registration required. If you would like to receive calendar invitations to this series of forums, click here to complete a simple form. Please share this invitation with your colleagues and neighbors!

All of the Forums will take place in the Lecture Room on the lower level of the Central Branch of the Bellingham Public Library (210 Central Ave). Please note that car parking at the Library is metered until 6:00 pm.

Page last updated: 17 Apr 2024, 07:53 AM