Connecticut Ranks 11th in U.S. in Sustainable Development, Analysis Finds

Connecticut has the most tree cover in urban areas in the U.S. – 6.1 times more than North Dakota, which has the least tree cover. That is among the findings in a recently released analysis by the non-profit organization SmileHub on the Best States for Sustainable Development in 2025.

Overall, Connecticut ranked 11th among the states.  The top 10 included California, Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, Maryland, Washington, Virginia, Colorado, Maine, and New York.

In order to identify the best states for sustainable development, SmileHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Consumption & Pollution Baselines, 2) Environmental Support & Standards and 3) Urban Sustainability.

Connecticut ranked 4th, 14th and 15th in those metrics, respectively, earning the overall ranking of 11th among the states. 

The Consumption & Pollution Baselines, where Connecticut ranked highest among the categories, included Energy Consumption per Capita, Share of Renewable Energy Consumption, Industrial Toxins per Square Mile of Land Area, Daily Water Consumption per Capita, Water Efficiency and Sustainability, and Total Tonnage of Landfill Waste per Capita.

The analysis noted that “While some states are actively implementing eco-friendly construction practices and promoting individual responsibility in reducing waste, others are still building momentum in their sustainability efforts.”

image by Cara Pauik