24. Dallas, TX

“Live large, think big!” That’s the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau’s slogan, and it might be the reason the city’s sustainability rank is holding at a steady 24, instead of climbing the charts. If Dallas could only harness Texas’ fierce individualism and trailblazing persona, sustainability – not the Cowboys – could be the first thing you think of when you hear “Dallas.” Treading water may be enough to stay afloat, but it won’t bring the city any closer to the upper echelons of sustainability. There is some good news though—the city is fighting the challenges presented by the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth “Metroplex,” by expanding public transit and promoting inner-city living, which should improve air quality problems.

(Photo by Fcn80)