Denver Leads The Way In Sustainability, Healthy Living and More

As Denver citizens, we have plenty of pride in our city. We’re here in between tourist-filled ski seasons enjoying the beautiful nature, bustling dining and overall good vibes that fill our city. And, as it turns out, our city pride looks like it will only grow stronger in the future.

According to a new study of the world's most future-focused cities, Denver is among the top 20 places in the world that are leading the way in the implementation of forward-thinking initiatives. Denver was one of only seven American cities that ranked this highly on the list. The analysis ranked cities based on factors like PPI, healthcare, sustainability and B corporations.

Based on some of the highlights that the analysis chose to calculate a measurement of Denver’s focus on the future, here’s a closer look at what specifically makes Denver a city of tomorrow, today.

First, any Denver resident knows how important the environment is to our city. Everything from our city’s fleet of hybrid vehicle taxis to the fact that Denver is the only city in the country with an Environmental Management System that helps support sustainability across all municipal operations go to show that our residents are willing to put in the effort and the financial investment into the environmental sustainability of our city.

Next, our city leads the way in terms of public health in the United States. Not only do Denver residents practice healthy lifestyles rates which exceed the national average, but the city makes living that healthy lifestyle easier. An estimated 96% of city residents living in a place with easy access to active recreation parks or facilities and Denver is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, according to a report from USA Today.

Finally, our city’s local industries are pushing towards becoming national leadership centers. The city boasts a diverse portfolio of strong business sectors including successful aerospace, telecommunications, financial services and clean-tech industries specifically. Still, a complex factor contributing to Denver’s economic success is the city’s crude oil production sector, which ranks in the top 10 in the world. While this industry might help push Denver’s financial position across the world, if the city is to be a future-focused leader, building a robust clean energy sphere will be essential.

Altogether, it goes without saying that Denver residents have a lot to be proud of when it comes to the future focus of their city. Still, there’s always room for us to push to be better so that we can move up the list and lead the world today, tomorrow and for years to come.