Earth Day Network's Urban Environment Report

Congrats to Fargo!

Posted by David Roberts at 11:01 AM on 09 Mar 2007

Read more about: Seattle | Portland

Seattle is in 7th heaven.

The Earth Day Network has issued its Urban Environment Report, which "scores the current environmental performance of 72 of our nation's cities based on over 200 indicators, taking into account those populations which may have greater sensitivity or susceptibility to environmental, health, and social problems."

The big winner overall? Well isn't it obvious? Fargo, North Dakota, of course! Here's the overall top ten:

Fargo, ND
Burlington, VT
Portland, OR
Colorado Springs, CO
Sioux Falls, SD
Boise, ID
Seattle, WA
Portland, ME
Minneapolis, MN
Anchorage, AK

For story: Earth Day Network's Urban Environment Report
3 Comments | Post a Comment

Woot Fargo!

I'm from Fargo and while the city isn't exactly an eco-utopia, there's urban planning, no major industry (to pollute the Red River, which is one of the cleanest in the nation), no slums, and sidewalks everywhere!

And it's medium-sized, not a metropolitan behemoth. And it has a growing green community and a well-established arts community.

I have to say, even as a Fargoan I was surprised, but extremely proud.

Glad to see SD and MN representing, too. Go Midwest!

by SnoDragon at 9:37 AM on 11 Mar 2007

whoa.

Sorry I call BS. I live in Anchorage, I've been here for the last 12 years. On March 9, I did a project for my Civic Engagement class, to go homeless for the day. We we're assigned characters with stories, these characters had to make it to appointments around the city, make their check-ins and etc. I learned a lot. There is great social injustice in our world, but there is much right here in Anchorage's backyard.

I'm also part of the "green" building community here, we're doing a lot. Not just with practice but policy as well. I'm going to the city's local college for a BS in Building Construction Management. In no part of their curriculum do they cover sustainability, urban, or even LEED. Our mayor is great, our assembly though not so much. Our voters, like our nation's democracy ride the fence on issues that have negative ramifications that of course affect their neighbors and kids. Yet our voices are confused or silenced by big oil PR.

I know people here believe the above words, but I do believe (from what I've heard) its worse than anyplace else. So much of our community is infiltrated by oil employees from out of state, mostly Texas. Our newspapers survive on ad revenue of course...guess whose more than happy to oblige? It's the culmination of this mess that even throws off the most empowering part of democracy, our local communities.

Anchorage, just like everywhere else has a hell of a lot left to do. Although I am young (21) and have not lived in any other city. This is city doesn't have a great Urban Environment. You live outside mid or downtown and wanna catch the bus? Tough shit. So peddle? Bike riders get targeted by our popular drunk induced road raged drivers like it was derby hunting.

I'm no extremist, I sit on the environmental fence when the costs don't add up. I enjoy my meat, beer, and hockey/rugby. But goddamn maybe whomever did this study should have to live in these places first.

William A. McDonough is my hero.

by random vagrant at 4:30 PM on 11 Mar 2007

One Of These Things Doesn't Belong

Seattle is not "green" -- except in the minds and web sites of starry eyed city planners. The reality is Seattle is a mire of muck:

List of polluted local waters grows
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/156881_streams16.html ...

Sprawling suburbs, trees lost to logging and development, and record numbers of pollution-spewing cars and trucks have combined to leave more Washington streams and lakes branded "polluted" than ever before.
More than 700 waterways are in trouble -- most often because they're too warm to keep fish healthy, but also because of pollution from toxic chemicals and bacteria, state Ecology Department officials said yesterday.
Seventy-five lakes, rivers and creeks were added to Ecology's impaired-waterways list since it was last compiled in 1998, many of them in the Puget Sound region.

by jabailo at 10:07 AM on 12 Mar 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

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