SustainLane 2006 US City Sustainability Ranking

New York City: Sustainability Out of Necessity

New York City has many of the qualities that make many foreign cities livable: It's densely populated, with an exceptional subway and rail system and a diversity of local businesses that are most easily accessed by foot.

In many ways, New York City is an anomaly in the United States. The limitations of the city-its geographic boundaries and population density, which at 25,000 per square mile is more than six times that of #1 Portland-have forced it to be more sustainable than most US cities. Without an excellent public transportation system, plenty of parks, and forward-thinking planning, it's hard to imagine so many people coexisting so successfully.

New York City is necessarily one of the most sustainable cities in the United States, because it's impossible to put so many people into such a small space without reducing their footprint on the earth. People live in smaller spaces, require far less energy for driving, and tend to confine themselves to local shops in ways that have served as a model for mixed-use redevelopments across the nation.

On a number of fronts, New Yorkers are pioneering more sustainable living solutions. The city's network of farmers markets is impressive, its park space is enviable, and its focus on green building is positively inspiring. At the same time, New York faces ongoing challenges, most notably air pollution and congestion. No doubt, given its resources and the enterprising nature of its citizens, the city will find a way.