Our Green Cities

Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously



The Bottom 12

Least Sustainable Cities - as of September 15, 2007
Here they are - the bottom 12 most sustainable cities.* These are not the cities doing the least among all cities in the US – there are many cities doing less than these bottom 12.  These are the cities that say they want to become more sustainable but aren’t doing much about it. How do we judge the cities? See the specific criteria that follows the cities list.
 
Rank, Taking Sustainability Cities Seriously Index, City
 
1. 14.0 Boston
       
2. 14.0 Brookline    
 
3. 14.0 Cleveland
 
4. 14.0 Atlanta
 
5. 14.0 Pittsburgh
 
6. 12.0 St. Louis
 
7. 11.0 Orlando
 
8. 10.0 Santa Barbara
 
9.   9.0 Indianapolis
 
10. 9.0 Milwaukee
 
11. 8.0 New Haven
 
12. 7.0 Lansing/East Lansing
 
*Updated as of September 15, 2007, from Kent E. Portney. The "Index" is based on assessment of 35 specific city government policies, programs, and activities. Click here for the full list.
The City Policies, Programs, and Activities of the Index of Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously
 
Each Policy, Program, or Activity Count One Point in the Index
 
Does the City Have:
 
Smart Growth Activities
   1. Eco-industrial park development
   2. Targeted or cluster economic development
   3. Eco-village (urban infill housing) project or program
   4. Brownfield redevelopment (project or pilot project)
 
Land Use Planning Programs, Policies, and Zoning
   5. Zoning used to delineate environmentally sensitive growth areas
   6. Comprehensive land use plan that includes environmental issues
   7. Tax incentives for environmentally friendly development (only where zoning is
        not permitted)
 
Transportation Planning Programs and Policies
   8. Operation or sponsorship of public transit (buses and/or trains)
   9. Limits on downtown parking spaces
 10. Car pool lanes (HOV or diamond lanes)
 11. Alternatively fueled city vehicle (green fleet) program
 12. Bicycle ridership program
 
Pollution Prevention, Reduction, and Remediation
 13. Household solid waste recycling
 14. Industrial recycling
 15. Hazardous waste recycling
 16. Air pollution reduction program (i.e. VOC reduction)
 17. Recycled product purchasing by city government
 18. Superfund (non-brownfield) site remediation
 19. Asbestos abatement program
 20. Lead paint abatement program
 21. Pesticide reduction program
 
Energy and Resource Conservation/Efficiency
 22. Green building program
 23. Renewable energy use by city government
 24. Energy conservation effort (other than Green building program)
 25. Alternative energy offered to consumers (solar, wind, biogas, etc.)
 26. Water conservation program
 
Sustainable Indicators Project
 27. Indicators project active in last five years
 28. Indicators progress report in last five years
 29. Does indicators project include “action plan” of policies/programs?
 
Organization/Administration/Management/Coordination/Governance
 30. Single government or nonprofit agency responsible for implementing
       sustainability programs
 31. Sustainability an explicit part of a citywide comprehensive or general plan
 32. Involvement of city/county/metropolitan council
 33. Involvement of mayor or chief executive officer
 34. Involvement of the business community (e.g. Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable
       Business organization)
 35. General public involvement (public hearings, visioning process, Neighborhood
       groups or associations, etc.)
* Updated as of Septermber 15, 2007. Original list January 1, 2006, from Kent E. Portney. Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously: Economic Development, the Environment, and Quality of Life in American Cities. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003. The "Index" is based on assessment of 35 specific city government policies, programs, and activities.