By John Wagner
FOCUS Director of Community Policy

Can the St. Louis region be more environmentally friendly?  According to one measure, it couldn’t be much less.  The St. Louis region ranks 88 of 90 metropolitan areas according to the Green Metro Index, a measure of performance on air quality, toxic releases, Superfund sites, energy use, motor vehicle use and mass transit use.  A higher ranking indicates a worse performance – we are almost last!  While there may be more than one way to improve the quality of life for many of the region’s residents, increasing the level of environmental sustainability and stewardship would not only enrich the lives of citizens, it would allow St. Louis to do its part in reducing global warming.  And this does not need to be a sacrifice.  Green technology and jobs would pave the way to an improved regional and national economy.  Sustainable practices can reduce the fiscal burden high maintenance costs impose on local governments.

To that end, FOCUS St. Louis has formed an Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship Task Force to study local governments in the St. Louis region.  The result will be a Toolkit or Roadmap for area cities and counties to take advantage of to increase environmental sustainability and awareness.  What do you think the best way to help the St. Louis region become more environmentally-friendly is?  Is it even worth talking about now with the economy the way it is?  Are there bigger priorities out there, or should the St. Louis area put environmental sustainability at the top of its list?

An environmentally sustainable St. Louis? Well, it is something to aim for, anyway.