Irvine Ranked No. 8 Greenest City in America in WalletHub Study of 100 Largest Cities
The City of Irvine, in Orange County, California, announced on October 27 that it has been ranked the eighth-greenest city in America by personal finance website WalletHub. WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities in the United States across 28 key indicators of environmental friendliness and sustainability, including greenhouse gas emissions, air and water quality, green space, transportation, energy sources and green job opportunities.
The city pointed to several long-running efforts behind the ranking. On transportation, Irvine CONNECT provides free shuttle rides every day, encouraging shared transportation and reducing vehicle trips, and the Irvine Mobility Bike Share Pilot Program fields 20 pedal-assist bicycles and two docking stations connecting to the city's extensive trail network of hundreds of miles of on-street and off-street bike trails.
On landscaping equipment, the final phase of the city's gas-powered lawn equipment ban took effect earlier this year. Ordinance No. 23-25, approved by the City Council in 2023, is intended to reduce noise pollution and carbon emissions and aligns with the state's ban on the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engine equipment.
Through its Urban Forestry program, the city aims to plant 500,000 trees and achieve 30% tree canopy coverage by 2055. The city said it remains focused on advancing environmental initiatives, expanding sustainable transportation options and preserving the natural resources that contribute to a healthy community; WalletHub's methodology and full rankings are in its Greenest Cities in America report.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 尔湾光谱中心（Irvine Spectrum Center）摩天轮夜景（资料图）。Azusa Tarn 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Giant Wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center at dusk (file photo). Photo by Azusa Tarn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
