Greater Phoenix ranked among most sustainable metros in U.S.

Published: 07/05/2023
Updated: 07/06/2023

Greater Phoenix earned the No. 7 sustainability spot in Site Selection Magazine

Greater Phoenix leaders have made it a priority to not only build the regional economy, but to improve the environment and make this earth a better place to live. These efforts earned recognition on Wednesday in Site Selection Magazine, which released its 2023 Annual Sustainability Rankings and labeled both Greater Phoenix and Arizona as two of the most sustainable places in the United States.

The region tied with the Denver metro for No. 7 in the nation and No. 1 in the Mountain Region. Arizona was ranked No. 5 in the country, second among Mountain Region states.

Criteria for the rankings was based on a variety of factors including the number of LEED-certified buildings, renewable energy capacity and deployment, green industry projects, energy star buildings, green laws and incentives, solar jobs census, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) rankings.

Sustainability isn’t just good for the planet — it’s good for business. A recent Deloitte study showed that 44% of millennials and 49% of Gen Zs make career choices based on personal ethics. More than a quarter of the demographic says that a business’ impact on the environment has influenced buying decisions. With hiring and employment retention at a premium, Greater Phoenix companies have shown that they are willing to adapt and be creative in their business processes.

“With innovative clean tech companies like OnePointOne, SOURCE Water, Footprint, CarbonCapture Inc., and an abundance of electric vehicle and battery manufacturers, along with Arizona State University’s prioritization of sustainability education, Greater Phoenix is becoming a national center for clean energy,” said GPEC President & CEO Chris Camacho. “Greater Phoenix’s ranking is well-deserved, but our work is not done.”

Read the magazine here.