In a piece for GE's Ecomagination, Michael d'Estries takes a look at five cities that set the bar for cutting carbon, recycling waste, and making space for Mother Nature.
Thanks to innovative programs in alternative transportation, renewable energy, green building, and waste management, the following five cities earned d'Estries' vote for "Most Sustainable Cities in the World":
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- San Francisco, California, United States
- Oslo, Norway
- Curitiba, Brazil
- Copenhagen, Denmark
Said d'Estries of Vancouver: "They already lead the world in hydroelectric power-making up 90 percent of its supply-as well as regularly tapping into renewables like wind, solar, and wave power. Thanks to mass transit, bike lanes (248 miles worth), ride sharing programs, and greenways, Vancouver has the lowest per capita carbon emissions of any major city on the continent."
The analysis looked heavily at cities' electric vehicle fleets, where San Francisco took the lead with over 1,000 EVs and 5,000 plug-in hybrids expected by the end of the year.
FULL STORY: Top Five Most Sustainable Cities in the World
Infographic Evaluates the World's Greenest Cities
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This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Smith Gee Studio
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City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)