Bozeman updates climate plan progress, seeks board input on two‑year sustainability work plan

Natalie Meyer, sustainability division staff for the City of Bozeman, presented the city’s annual report on the Bozeman Climate Plan and a proposed two‑year Sustainability Division work plan to the Sustainability Advisory Board on Jan. 8. The presentation reviewed progress toward the plan’s reduction and resiliency targets and asked the board for feedback on priorities such as the Unified Development Code, water conservation and electric mobility planning.

Meyer told the board, “The Bozeman Climate Plan was adopted in 2020. So we’re four years into implementation of that plan.” She summarized the plan’s numeric mitigation goals — reduce greenhouse gas emissions 26% by 2025 (below a 2008 baseline), achieve 100% net clean electricity by 2030, and reach carbon neutrality by 2050 — and reviewed the city’s inventory through 2022.

The report showed buildings as the largest local emission source (about 52% of community emissions: roughly 29% commercial, 23% residential), transportation at about 37% (including roughly 27% from on‑road and off‑road vehicles and about 10% from aviation), and waste at about 10%. Meyer noted the challenge posed by growth: Bozeman’s population rose about 57% between 2008 and 2022, while per‑person emissions fell roughly 17% during the same period.

City highlights cited in the presentation included municipal projects and community programs. Meyers described Fire Station 2 on Kagy Boulevard as the city’s first…