The first point in making a sustainable city is to not make unsustainable things available where its possible. According to https://www.nationalgeographic.com/envi … story-ban/ 500 million straws are used everyday in just the US alone and solute beaches and oceans. This not only effects the looks of our beaches, but the Eco system inside of them. This could easily be reduced by a place like Starbucks simply not supplying them. Instead of using disposable plastic straws they could supply paper straws or have a discount if you bring a metal one. Also grocery stores all should carry reusable bags and instead or plastic bags they should only have paper bags. A sustainable city would also include lots of fuel efficient transportation and cars, but ideally cars would be used and most transportation would be from bikes or walking.

I think that your point is very insightful! I agree with your idea of riding small plastic items and replacing them with other alternatives. I also think that public CO2 efficient transportation is a great alternative to our current situation, however, personally, I don't feel that that change will happen as soon as we would hope. I take public transit a lot and think that it is a great alternative, but I do also understand the hassle and inconsistency that it comes with. I feel that instead, an easier idea would be to produce more CO2 efficient cars or other modes of transportations that can be more easily accessible. While I do understand that it is not easy and quick for people to switch and buy a new car, but if car companies provided more options for CO2 efficient alternatives, eventually, most if not all of the cars could be CO2 efficient. I personally know of many cars that serve a CO2 efficient alternative, but most of these cars are quite pricey. If someone could invent a cheaper alternative, I feel that our world could become more eco-friendly.

I agree with every point you made. The straw pollution is a huge issue in the US right now, but we've made a lot of steps in the right direction. I think your idea of stores giving an incentive to bring reusable products is a great idea, and has many benefits for people and the environment. To add onto you idea of promoting use of bikes and walking, I think it is very important for cities to be pedestrian friendly, with safe, clean sidewalks and bike lanes to promote these environmentally friendly modes of transportation. In Oakland, they have been implementing safer bike lanes, which are protected by parked cars. This, of many is a important step into a greener, sustainable city.

I agree with your statements. It is hard to make a sustainable city in this day in age. Everyone has their own wants and needs and it costs a lot of money. To make a city eco-friendly and still have that city vibe is hard to do. With the straw thing, it is terrible that, that many straws are used every day. There needs to be a ban on them and or make it a material that dissolves overtime.

As a follow up to my idea, the Ergon Energy Network states that "By choosing to drive an EV you are helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions. An EV has zero exhaust emissions". This shows that driving a more sustainable car reduces our carbon footprint and further cuts down on CO2 levels.

I agree with you 100%, I also think it's interesting how Starbucks has a discount when you bring in your own reusable cup, but not when you bring in your own reusable straw. According to http://money.com/money/5343736/how-many … every-day/  there are 7.5 million plastic straws polluting U.S. If just one large chain like starbucks had policies of changing their straws to paper, and having discounts for people who bring in reusable straws, we would see the number slowly decrease.

I agree! By getting rid of the small plastic it will reduce the waste in the world, as well as help, save the animals affected by the trash that we produce. According to, https://thelastplasticstraw.org/ U.S consumes enough plastic straws to wrap around the world 2.5 times a day. By cutting down on the number of singles use straws we can create a better environment.

I agree that if you truly want a sustainable city, you can't make it easy for people to waste and contribute to global warming. As I have seen down my street, many places such as Starbucks and Fenton's are becoming more eco friendly minor companies. Both have switched from plastic straws and utensils to compostable one which many other places are starting to do as well.