Calgary the top Eco-City on the Planet

[Bunk]

According to Mercer's quality of living survey;

Eco-City Ranking 2010 includes the following criteria: Water availability, water potability, waste removal, sewage, air pollution and traffic congestion.

http://www.mercer.com/qualityoflivin...ing_Eco_Cities

1 CALGARY CANADA 145.7
2 HONOLULU UNITED STATES 145.1
3 OTTAWA CANADA 139.9
3 HELSINKI FINLAND 139.9
5 WELLINGTON NEW ZEALAND 138.9
6 MINNEAPOLIS UNITED STATES 137.8
7 ADELAIDE AUSTRALIA 137.5
8 COPENHAGEN DENMARK 137.4
9 KOBE JAPAN 135.6
9 OSLO NORWAY 135.6
9 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN 135.6
12 PERTH AUSTRALIA 135.3
13 MONTREAL CANADA 133.6
13 VANCOUVER CANADA 133.6
13 NURNBERG GERMANY 133.6
13 AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND 133.6
13 BERN SWITZERLAND 133.6
13 PITTSBURGH UNITED STATES 133.6
19 ZURICH SWITZERLAND 133.5
19 ABERDEEN UNITED KINGDOM 133.5
21 CANBERRA AUSTRALIA 133.3
22 SINGAPORE SINGAPORE 132.4
23 BRISBANE AUSTRALIA 131.6
23 WASHINGTON UNITED STATES 131.6
25 MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 131.5
25 GENEVA SWITZERLAND 131.5
25 BOSTON UNITED STATES 131.5
28 DUSSELDORF GERMANY 130.7
28 MUNICH GERMANY 130.7
30 CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA 129.4
30 BELFAST UNITED KINGDOM 129.4
32 LYON FRANCE 129.3
33 DUBLIN IRELAND 128.9
34 HAMBURG GERMANY 128.8
34 STUTTGART GERMANY 128.8
34 PHILADELPHIA UNITED STATES 128.8
37 YOKOHAMA JAPAN 128.7
38 VICTORIA SEYCHELLES 128.5
39 TORONTO CANADA 127.1
39 AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS 127.1
41 BRUSSELS BELGIUM 126.8
41 LEIPZIG GERMANY 126.8
43 ST. LOUIS UNITED STATES 126.6
44 VIENNA AUSTRIA 126.2
44 LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG 126.2
46 SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 125
47 GLASGOW UNITED KINGDOM 124.7
48 MUSCAT OMAN 124.2
49 POINTE-A-PITRE GUADELOUPE 123.8
50 NAGOYA JAPAN 123.1
50 OSAKA JAPAN 123.1
50 FRANKFURT GERMANY 123.1


Calgary Ranked 28th in the quality of living category.

[Stranger]

Take that Suzuki! Good for Calgary.

[BlackEleven]

Edmonton not on the list. Confirmation that it's a stinkhole.

[SeeBass]

I think I would be ok if I could live at number 2 instead

[Table 5]

Good for us I suppose, although "Eco-city" seems like a bit of misnomer...

It's funny how Edmonton never seems to make these "quality" lists considering how similar the cities are in many ways. Didn't they built some fancy new waste treatment plant a few years ago?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

Edmonton not on the list. Confirmation that it's a stinkhole.

I don't think it's that. They're not on the list because it only includes important cities.

[username]

If we were number 1 in this category then I suppose we were really bad in others to drop down to 28th overall....

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Good for us I suppose, although "Eco-city" seems like a bit of misnomer...

It always depends on the criteria the specific study uses. On the stuff they ranked, clearly Calgary is a top performer, particularly in areas of water and sewage treatment. I think if they began to include criteria like carbon footprint for capita (due to our use of coal to create electricity) or amount of land used per capita the city's ranking would fall.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

It always depends on the criteria the specific study uses. On the stuff they ranked, clearly Calgary is a top performer, particularly in areas of water and sewage treatment. I think if they began to include criteria like carbon footprint for capita (due to our use of coal to create electricity) or amount of land used per capita the city's ranking would fall.

Well, that's sort of my point, if they are going to throw titles like "Eco City" around, things like carbon footprints, sprawl, public transportation networks and other elements need to be taken into consideration too. Not too downplay the achievements of Calgary in the categories they ranked of course, the fact that these areas are doing so well is fantastic. I could use some of that good water here...

[mykalberta]

When did Rick Mercer start doing no one cares about world polling?

I love living here. Close to mountains, airport has non stop flights around the world, women are hot (the dirtier they are the easier they are).

[flamesdyehard]

Originally Posted by username

If we were number 1 in this category then I suppose we were really bad in others to drop down to 28th overall....

Weather always cripples Calgary in these lists. It would probably be the major reason for the drop.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by flamesdyehard

Weather always cripples Calgary in these lists. It would probably be the major reason for the drop.

Which is funny since it doesn't seem to affect Vancouver that much. Obviously Calgary gets cold, but that constant sun and blue sky definitely make up for it.....while the mild, but wet and cloudy weather, is probably the number one reason people stay away from coastal B.C.

[bluntus logicimus]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It's funny how Edmonton never seems to make these "quality" lists considering how similar the cities are in many ways. Didn't they built some fancy new waste treatment plant a few years ago?

Edmonton is hardly ever part of the sample in these surveys. One Alberta city appears to be the quota.

Given the similarities of the two cities' municipal programs, wouldn't be a surprise to see Edmonton beside Calgary on that list.

[mc0709]

Funny,

Calgary is in danger of overusing its water supply, has MASSIVE urban sprawl and often exceeds air quality guidelines due to stagnent air above the city.

I would take that study with a grain of sand.

Edmonton is not entirely a sinkhole, it does have world renowned waste management and recycling programs.

[Canada 02]

^why didn't you log in as mudcrutch79?

[stampsx2]

No kidding. The view of Calgary from any hill also includes a layer of smog every few days of the week. Taking eco-friendly with a grain of salt. But still Calgary is the best city in Canada for a million other reasons.

[Jake]

I'm suprised about Honolulu. Most of the waste is just dumped into the ocean and the recycling program sucks (it only accepts plastics up to "2").

[Phaneuf3]

Haha! Suck it, world!

[Matata]

Originally Posted by mc0709

Funny,

Calgary is in danger of overusing its water supply, has MASSIVE urban sprawl and often exceeds air quality guidelines due to stagnent air above the city.

I would take that study with a grain of sand.

Edmonton is not entirely a sinkhole, it does have world renowned waste management and recycling programs.

I'm guessing it uses 'effect' as a metric and not 'cause'. by this I mean the fact that calgary is surrounded by pristine wilderness, no other major urban centers for over 100 miles any direction, and the relative young age of the city.

Based on geography alone, it would be almost impossible for calgary to not top the list.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by mc0709

Edmonton is not entirely a sinkhole

I believe I said stinkhole. I stand by that.