Minneapolis has been named one of the most sustainable cities in the United States by SustainLane.com, an online people-powered guide to sustainable living. Minneapolis ranked number seven, moving up from the tenth spot in 2005, among the 50 most populous cities in the nation.

SustainLane’s rankings are based on 16 different indicators that cover many sustainable practice areas, including local food availability, tap water quality, air quality, metro transit ridership, energy and climate change, and green building practices; the indicators show where cities are excelling or struggling. The rankings also take into consideration the chance of natural disasters and the preparation that cities have made to handle those catastrophes.

Minneapolis ranked high among other cities in many indicators, such as the availability of local food and agriculture (#1), city innovation (#6) and green economy (#7). The city was referred to as a “Midwestern jewel of a city” and was also recognized for the climate change grants that the City awards to groups for funding projects aimed at tackling global warming.

Creating a more sustainable community is a top priority for Minneapolis. The quality of life in the city is linked to the health and well-being of our community and our environment. Minneapolis has focused limited resources and reformed city government processes to be a more sustainable city, which means a city that meets its current needs without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This can be accomplished by balancing environmental, economic, and social equity concerns. All of us – residents, businesses and government – can take actions everyday that will make Minneapolis better today and create a positive legacy for future generations.

To learn more about Minneapolis’ sustainability efforts, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.