We engage our community in climate actions, catalyzing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and build a resilient Missoula.
We envision a low-carbon, resilient community that has the networks, knowledge, and capacity to address the climate crisis equitably and sustain a vibrant Missoula that works for everyone. Launched in 2015, in 2020 we moved on from being fiscally sponsored (Thanks Missoula Community Foundation) to our own 501(c)3 non-profit and now have a staff of four!  Check out of Five Year Report HERE.

Our Goals:

carbon neutrality
  • Catalyze and encourage projects that lead to the Missoula community reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
  • Collaborate with local government to provide regular reporting of GHG emissions.
community resiliency
  • Prepare Missoula for climate impacts so our community can bounce back from disruption and leave no one behind. 
social cohesion
  • Connect and support groups working on climate mitigation and adaptation. 
  • ​Center social equity and community vitality in projects. 
inspiration and resolve
  • Harness kindness and innovation when responding to climate related challenges. 
  • Lead our community climate efforts with resolve and determination. 
beyond missoula
  • Inspire actions beyond this community and lead statewide climate efforts

More on Climate Smart Missoula:

We make hard work (and hard topics) more fun by bringing a sense of creativity and humor everyday. ​
Al and Ian, from Planet Alien, came to our 2nd Annual Clean Energy Expo to help us understand our current energy system and where we can go in the future. 

A Hub of Community Climate Action

We collaborate across our community and state, building crucial networks to foster a resilient Missoula and Montana, for this generation and the next. 

Every year we get together to celebrate these connections, as well as another year of hard work and momentum, with special Smarty Pants Awards for community members. Our Year 4 Celebration and Smarty Pants Awards was simply fantastic. Thanks to all who came and joined us!
Thanks to Phoebe Bean for the photographs! 
Missoulians have been active in efforts to reduce carbon pollution and build a more resilient community for decades.  As a solutions-based and forward-thinking community, many individuals and groups are motivated to inspire action and change.  Climate Smart Missoula's is the result of a series of summits in 2013 and 2014, which Mayor Engen and the City of Missoula convened. See below for more key climate milestones for Missoula.

Key Milestones for Missoula

  • 2007 | Montana Forest Restoration Committee’s principles adopted
  • 2010 | University of Montana's Climate Action Plan adopted 
  • 2011 | ClimateWise report published by Clark Fork Coalition, GEOS Institute, and Headwaters Economics
  • 2013 | Missoula's Municipal Conservation and Climate Action Plan adopted
  • ​2013 | First community climate action plan summit
  • 2014 | Second climate action plan summit, which leads early the next year to...
  • 2015 | Climate Smart Missoula releases Community Climate Action Plan
  • 2015 | Climate Smart Missoula becomes a new initiative of the Missoula Community Foundation
  • 2016 | Summer Smart launched 
  • 2016 | Missoula Community's first Carbon Emissions Inventory Published 
  • 2017 | Energy Smart and Solar-ease launched
  • 2019 | 100% Clean Electricity Resolution Adopted by Missoula City Council and Board of County Commissioners
  • 2020 | Climate Ready Missoula plan completed and on its way to adoption by City Council and Board of County Commissioners. 
  • 2020 | Climate Smart Missoula becomes a 501(c)3! 

Why are cities and communities ready to do this work?

HERE is a good place to start learning more. 

Past Events:

Climate Smart Missoula is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization. We formalized in 2015 and for our first years were fiscally sponsored by the Missoula Community Foundation. We're grateful to MCF for sponsoring us. As of 2020 we're our own non-profit!