SustainLane 2006 US City Sustainability Ranking

Albuquerque: Making a U-Turn

Until now, if you lived in or visited Albuquerque, you needed a car for everything. Like many Western cities after WWII, Albuquerque was developed with the open road in mind. Miles and miles of asphalt link retailers, office space, residential areas, and schools.

Sixty years later, that's beginning to change, in part because of a forward-thinking mayor, Martin Chavez. The "Chavez Era" has brought sustainability policies and pro-business economic development to the same table. As you make your way through the streets now, you may notice an increase in public transportation, better linkages between neighborhoods, more green building projects, and a large city green fleet.

While Albuquerque ranks low in categories related to public transit, an inspired mayor has instituted several programs to make the city more sustainable. Increased public transportation, green building incentives, and a sizable green fleet are an excellent start. A growing local food supply, a local water source (the Rio Grande), affordability, and a significant amount of parkland indicate that Albuquerque has the infrastructure to make sustainable living in the desert a reality.

Unlike many other cities, Albuquerque recognizes its limitations toward a sustainable future and has instituted policies and programs to begin changing. As the city scales up its efforts, they are likely to take hold and become part of the city's everyday way of doing things.