SustainLane 2006 US City Sustainability Ranking
Portland: A Role Model for the Nation
Cut out of the forest, Portland offers plenty of parks and bike paths as well as stunning views of Mt. Hood. Cafes, restaurants, and markets are integrated into most neighborhoods, encouraging people to walk rather than drive. Air and water quality are among the best in our study. Public transportation, including free transit downtown, is excellent, and mixed-use development in downtown's Pearl District is an urban model for cities across the nation.
In fact, Portland's commitment to creating a healthy, sustainable city runs so deep that the Portland Visitors Association makes fun of the issue in its marketing motto: "It's Not Easy Being Green." It's no wonder other cities look to it for leadership and inspiration. In 1993, it was the first city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and its #1 ranking in city innovation, energy, and knowledge base reflect a deep-seated understanding of sustainable practice. Citizens and politicians have worked together to keep the city's pristine environment in synch with its emerging clean tech economy.
And while Portland residents luck out by having plentiful fresh water from nearby Mt. Hood and clean breezes that blast down the Columbia River Gorge from the Pacific, Portlanders themselves deserve credit for working hard to preserve the natural environment they're blessed with.
