New York City, with its walkable urban landscapes and facilitating the design of energy-efficient buildings, among other sustainability measures, ranks among the 25 “greenest” cities in the country.
Buffalo is also in the report of the greenest cities in the United States in 2023 prepared by the personal finance portal WalletHub.
Both cities promote an environmentally friendly lifestyle by implementing measures to increase their sustainability efforts, placing them among the 25 “greenest” cities in the United States.
To determine which cities promote a “green” lifestyle, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities in the US. on 28 key indicators ranging from greenhouse gas emissions per capita to the number of smart energy policies and initiatives and green employment opportunities.
Buffalo placed 16th by scoring a total of 59.37 points. In the environment metric it had 30 points and this indicator includes the air quality index, greenhouse gas emissions per capita and the urban heat island effect.
It also includes green space, daily water consumption per capita, the proportion of green hotels, population density and the level of light pollution.
The transportation metric was assigned 8 points, which includes the proportion of travelers who drive alone, do not share a car, do not walk, do not travel by public transportation or ride a bicycle; average car travel time; hike; people on bicycles; miles of bike lanes and excess annual fuel consumption.
In energy sources it obtained 47 points and the report took into consideration the participation of electricity from renewable sources, solar photovoltaic installations and the number of smart energy policies and initiatives.
In terms of lifestyle and politics it had 19 points. The metric includes farmers markets per capita, certified organic farms per capita, community garden plots per capita and “green” job opportunities.
New York City ranks 25th on the list with a total score of 55.26 and by metrics it scored 64 in environment, 36 in transportation, 34 in energy sources and 18 in lifestyle and policies.
The report was released in October, which is National Energy Awareness Month and when 52 percent of Americans say protecting the environment should be prioritized over economic growth.
“Clean energy and other ‘green’ practices, such as recycling programs and urban agriculture, help create jobs and benefit both the environment and public health, all of which contribute to America’s bottom line. By recognizing those advantages, cities have increased their sustainability efforts and benefited economically,” WalletHub said.
Invest to be a “green” city?
In the face of climate change, experts consider that cities must allocate resources to confront it, but focused on the areas that most affect them.
Peder Anker, a professor of history of science at New York University, said that since no city has unlimited resources, they must be strategic about it.
He explained that each city is unique and different, and will have green investment opportunities that reflect its particular situation.
For example, he detailed, Miami could invest in greater resilience to flooding and the effects of climate change, while Phoenix could invest in water efficiency and reduce its urban heat island effects.
He opined that the benefits of smart green investment can be considerable: attractive and liveable urban centers, greater urban vitality, support for an adequate and stable tax base and, of course, better environmental performance.
“But unless investments are made smartly and strategically, the end result may be reduced support for green initiatives, as public support may erode,” he warned.
Braden Allenby, professor of Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering and Law at Arizona State University, leaned in favor of cities being “green.”
“Cities should go green, and I mean super green. And they shouldn’t do it to ‘save the world’ but to be good to their citizens. “Green parks, walkways, clean cars and clean water will improve everyone’s lives,” he said.
Sharon Moran, associate professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at the State University of New York (SUNY), said “going green” means moving toward sustainability.
He explained to WalletHub that greener practices include reworking both the physical aspects and the zero-waste goals that help make the flow of materials and energy more sensible, as well as the social aspects such as policies for accessible green spaces, equitable housing options and Toxic-free workplaces.
“Being greener is always a smart investment: environmental economics taught us that pollution problems are a symptom that things are out of balance because costs have shifted. It’s pay now or pay later, and it always costs more later,” Moran said.