Climate Smart Bainbridge

Bainbridge Island has big climate action goals and we need your help! We’re working to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2025, and 90% by 2045, compared to 2014.

Roughly 40% of U.S. GHG emissions come from five basic household activities: transportation choices, electricity use, heating, food choices, and waste. The great news is there are lots of ways you can take action to protect our environment, save money, and improve your health and the comfort of your home.

The Climate Smart Challenge makes it easy and fun to reduce your GHG emissions. You select the actions specific to your journey and lifestyle, track your progress, and watch your carbon footprint decline as you make changes at home. You can collaborate with your neighbors, share ideas and resources, and work towards your goals together.

Watch a short presentation on how the Climate Smart Challenge works, and learn about actions taken in support of our 2020 Climate Action Plan, in the video below. Together we can create a Climate Smart Bainbridge!

Join the Bainbridge Island Climate Smart Challenge today!

Youth & School Resources

Climate Action Lessons Plans for Grades 4-12

The City’s Climate Smart Challenge has free lesson plans and activities to help students measure carbon footprints, identify concrete climate solutions, and address climate anxiety. Lesson plans with short videos and slide decks for grades 4-6 and grades 7-12 are available below. *Please right click to open the documents below in a separate tab*

Lesson Plan Outline for Grades 7-12: includes a 40-minute and 60-minute "What is Your Carbon Footprint?" activity and a 45-minute "Climate Solutions Challenge" activity.
Lesson Plan Outline for Grades 4-6

Kids can also download and print these coloring sheets. Post your artwork in a window to show you have a Climate Smart home!

If you have questions about the lesson plans or are interested in a presentation for your classroom, please contact Hannah Ljunggren, Climate Action Outreach Coordinator, via email or phone at 206.780.8594.

Climate Smart 4th Graders

The City partnered with Ordway Elementary School in late 2022 to pilot the Climate Smart Youth program. This six-week program helped students measure their carbon footprints, identify concrete climate solutions, and address climate anxiety. This was achieved through games, quizzes, and opportunities for students to serve as Climate Smart ambassadors for their peers. At the conclusion of this program students were invited to City Hall, where they gave a presentation to City staff on what they had learned and what actions they believed staff should take to be more Climate Smart. The Climate Smart Youth program received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and staff and the City hopes to continue this program with other schools in 2023.

If your school, PTO, or other youth representatives are interested in this program (for 4th graders or other grades), please contact Hannah Ljunggren via email or phone at 206.780.8594.

Teams Program & Resources

The Climate Smart Teams Program provides a fun and impactful way to learn about actions to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare your homes and families for the impacts of climate change. The Teams program helps you take action, get more connected with your neighbors, and build a more resilient and sustainable Bainbridge Island.

The Teams Program includes a series of meeting agendas that focus on climate and sustainability solutions, emergency preparedness and resilience. You can form a team with neighbors, friends, church members, PTO members, classmates, coworkers - anyone you like! Materials include short videos, guided discussion questions and a celebration to recognize the impact of team members who complete actions in the Climate Smart Challenge.

You can access materials for the Teams program using the links below or by contacting Hannah Ljunggren, Climate Action Outreach Coordinator, via email or phone at 206.780.8594.

Read the Team Leader Guide (PDF)

Learn how to form a team (Video)

Meeting Topics

Click on the links below to review the agendas for facilitated discussions related to the Climate Smart Bainbridge Team program.

Climate Smart Leaders

Do you know someone who's going above and beyond to address climate change? Nominate them as a Climate Smart Leader!

The Climate Smart Leaders program celebrates and promotes individuals and groups that are active in the Climate Smart Challenge and taking the lead on climate action in our community. Climate Smart Leaders help to inspire others in the community to join the Challenge - and perhaps become Climate Smart Leaders themselves!

Climate Smart Leaders have achieved one or more of the following:

Earned at least 5,000 points in the Climate Smart Challenge
Participated in the Challenge Teams Program
Completed one or more of the "Big Actions" in the Challenge
Taken other actions to lead on climate action in our community

Leaders can be nominated by themselves or others. If you believe that you or someone you know is a Climate Smart Leader, please fill out this short nomination form. If selected, leaders will receive recognition via social media.

Climate Smart Leaders in the Community

Please help us celebrate our newest Climate Smart Leader, Grace Bonow! Grace is a youth advocate for the Climate Smart Challenge, who formed a Community Group, encouraged other families at Hyla School to join the Challenge, and taught in-school seminars on the program. Congratulations Grace and thank you for your efforts to create a Climate Smart Bainbridge!