City Profiles

Cleveland, Ohio aims to become a model of sustainability and plans to become a leader in the emerging green economy over the next 9 years through the efforts of Sustainable Cleveland 2019.

In early 2007, Honolulu's Energy and Sustainability Task Force was formed to develop a 10-year plan to make the city even more energy efficient and sustainable.

Due to the innovative leadership of Mayor Chris Coleman, Saint Paul, Minn. is a national leader in sustainable, urban living by "acting locally" to help reverse the negative effects of global warming.

Through various city planning processes, and in particular, the Master Plan process, the citizens of Grand Rapids, Mich. created a vision; a vision for sustainability and growth in the city in which they want to live, work, and play. The City of Grand Rapids' Sustainability Vision Statement includes Service and Operational themes that encompass the range of services and programs provided by the city. Each theme includes a series of outcomes that further define the anticipated goals of city services.

For almost twenty years, Mayor Richard M. Daley and the City of Chicago have led the nation with innovative initiatives to make Chicago the most environmentally friendly city in the nation. This includes planting more than a half million trees, mandating the construction of environmentally friendly buildings and installing roof top gardens on city owned buildings.

To set a road map for making Minneapolis truly sustainable, the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak started integrating sustainability principles into city decision making. The Sustainability Initiative was formulated to spur action, track results and better coordinate activities throughout the city. Here is an overview of some key council actions from 2007 to present:

The City of Santa Barbara, Calif. has initiated many ways the city can work to maintain its green beauty. The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County launched a new program designed to help businesses throughout the county "go green and save green."

The City of Boston has been nationally recognized as a leader in environmental and energy policy. As part of Mayor Thomas Menino's overall efforts to "green" Boston, the City has been exploring the use of LED lighting for public spaces, sidewalks and roadways through the installation of a demonstration project on Boston Common.

The City of Oakland has worked diligently with all members of the community for more than three years to develop its Model City vision. Looking forward to a greener future with its new vision, Oakland has implemented a comprehensive plan to position itself as a leader in the sustainable green and economic movement.

Since the 1970's, the City of Portland has been synonymous with one word: green. The city has made a commitment to clean air and water, livable neighborhoods, parks and open spaces, economic development that is sustainable for the environment, sensible transportation and much more.