9月22日美國線上永續生活公司SustainLane公佈年度「詠續城市排行榜」，奧勒岡州波特蘭市再次蟬聯榜首，這份調查主要是根據美國50大城市在落實環保生活方面的成效進行排名。
以經濟、環境、綠色清淨科技等16個項目為基礎，SustainLane美國城市排名主要針對各城市維護健康空氣品質、飲水、公園、大眾運輸系統，以及擁有綠色建築、農夫市集、可再生能源和替代性燃料的健全永續地方經濟，進行整體的評估。
2008年舊金山、西雅圖與芝加哥皆維持與2007年相同的名次，分別排名第2、第3和第4名，紐約市上升1名排名第5。
改善幅度最大的城市為俄亥俄州首府哥倫布市，由2007年的最後1名上升到第30名；拉斯維加斯名次下滑最多，從2007年的第27名下降到第47名。
最後3名的城市分別為突沙、奧克拉荷馬和梅薩。
SustainLane表示，自2005年發起以來，永續城市排名活動已成為改變的誘因，各城市的平均分數普遍都比2005年來的高。
排名活動讓美國各大城市開始進行市區綠化、更多人開始騎單車或使用大眾運輸工具、採用可再生能源、政府永續生活計劃和社區團體的成立等等。
市民之間也會相互合作，共同就燃料價格上漲和氣候變遷所產生的問題討論解決方案。
SustainLane指出，這些市民已打造了社區花園、適合居住空間和廢棄物處理方法，例如在西雅圖、明尼阿波里斯市、丹佛、舊金山、芝加哥和底特律所採行的厭氣消化處理槽。
美國永續城市排行榜已公佈在網站上，請連結至http://www.sustainlane.com/us-city-rankings/；此外， 全世界第一次關於綠色城市與綠色社區的研討會，10月1日也將在日內瓦登場。
現在其他國家也開始效法美國SustainLane永續城市排名的作法，日本已開始與SustainLane合作，希望在2009年7月東京綠色博覽會時，公佈日本各城市永續行動計劃的排名。
Portland, Oregon is in first place again this year in an annual ranking of city sustainability released today by SustainLane, an online guide to sustainable living. This national survey ranks the largest 50 U.S. cities in terms of their green living practices.
Based on 16 economic, environmental and green/clean tech categories, the SustainLane U.S. City Rankings assess each city's ability to maintain healthy air, drinking water, parks and public transit systems, as well as a robust, sustainable local economy with green building, farmers markets, renewable energy and alternative fuels.
This year San Francisco held on to second place, Seattle is again in third, Chicago ranks fourth as it did last year, and New York City has moved up one notch into fifth place.
The city that has improved the most is Columbus, Ohio - up to 30th place this year from 50th place in 2007.
Las Vegas, Nevada has slipped in the rankings more than any other city into 47th place from 27th place last year.
The lowest three cities are Tulsa, Oklahoma City and - in last place - Mesa, Arizona.
Introduced in 2005, SustainLane says its City Rankings have been a catalyst for change, pointing out that both the median and average scores have increased across all cities surveyed since 2005.
Trends marked by the rankings show greener downtown areas, more bicycling, public transit, renewable energy, government sustainability plans, and community groups in large cities across the United States.
Citizens are joining together to solve problems caused by rising fuel prices and climate change.
SustainLane notes they have created community gardens, livable spaces, and waste solutions such as anaerobic digesters in Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Chicago and Detroit.
To see the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings, visit: http://www.sustainlane.com/us-city-rankings/.
SustainLane's 2008 City Ranking will be featured at the world's first green cities and communities conference in Geneva, on October 1, 2008.
The SustainLane US City Rankings methodology is now being adopted internationally; Japan is working with SustainLane to rank their own cities' sustainable practices in a special report to be released in July 2009 at Japan's Green Festival in Tokyo.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
