As the world becomes more conscious of the impact of human activity on the environment, cities are taking on the challenge of becoming more sustainable.
From reducing carbon emissions to improving public transportation, sustainable cities are leading the way in creating a cleaner, healthier planet.
In this article, we will explore the top 10 most sustainable cities in the world.
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable cities in the world. The city has set an ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2025, and it's well on its way to achieving that goal. Copenhagen has invested heavily in bike infrastructure, with more than 390 kilometers of bike lanes, making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. Cycling accounts for 37% of all trips to work and study in Copenhagen and Copenhageners own more than 745.000 bicycles, which is five times more than cars.
Denmark has the highest consumption of organic food in the world per capita according to The World of Organic Agriculture Report (2021), and three out of four Danes buy organic food every week. 1/3 of Copenhagen’s hotel rooms – more than 8000 - are being cooled by water from Copenhagen Harbour, according to Danish energy company Hofor (2022). This is a CO2 reduction of up to 70% of CO2 compared to standard air conditioners. Vending-style machines in Denmark give you a choice between receiving funds or donating them to charity when you insert a can or bottle into them.
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam has a long history of sustainability. The city has been working to reduce carbon emissions for over 20 years and has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. Amsterdam has invested in renewable energy and has a comprehensive public transportation system that includes buses, trams, and trains. Sustainability runs through all sectors, from finance to farming. Even the fashion industry is setting trends.
Amsterdam is home to the world’s first museum and startup accelerator dedicated to sustainable fashion, Fashion for Good. And the construction sector is changing old habits too, by making sure new builds meet the highest standards of energy and resource efficiency. Many venues, including hotels, are powered by green energy, have protocols to reduce waste during events, catering options that reduce food miles and other green alternatives. Amsterdam is also ranks World’s number one for green finance. Green finance is defined as a financial product or service created to ensure a better environmental outcome, such as pollution prevention and energy efficiency.
3. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm has a strong commitment to sustainability, with a goal to be fossil fuel-free by 2040. The city has invested heavily in public transportation, including a comprehensive subway system and a fleet of electric buses.
Stockholm has also implemented a congestion tax, which encourages residents to use public transportation instead of driving. The city started work back in 1996, a time when few other cities gave attention to this global issue. Since then, the city has almost halved its annual greenhouse gas emissions, while the population has greatly increased.
The City of Stockholm aims to phase out fossil fuels by 2040 with the new milestone of no more than 1.5 tonnes of CO2 e per resident by 2023. In 2018, emissions were 2,110,000 tonnes of CO2 e and these shall be down to net zero by 2040. Estimates of reduction potential have been made for 2020–2023 and are based on the 2018 emission calculations, assuming that ongoing measures during 2019 reduce emissions by a further 100,000 tonnes of CO2 e. The measures proposed in the 2020–2023 Action Plan are expected to lead overall to a reduction of around 474,000 tonnes of CO2 e. The milestone has taken into account that the city’s population is projected to increase from 962,000 in 2018 to 1,024,000 in 2023.
4. Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver has set a goal to be the greenest city in the world by 2020. The city has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, including a comprehensive public transportation system, bike lanes, and a green building code. Vancouver has also set a goal to derive 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.
The city also ranks as the Greenest City in the World and clean living and working has inspired initiatives such as the Renewable City Strategy, which promises to derive 100 percent energy use from renewable sources by 2050, and Zero Waste 2040, which outlines a plan to achieve zero waste by 2040.
Vancouver is at the forefront of cleantech innovation, housing one of the world’s top cleantech clusters. Seventy-five percent of the 230+ cleantech companies in BC are based in Metro Vancouver, employing more than 4,750 people. The city is also home to the world’s largest hydrogen and fuel cell industry, with 16 percent global market share.
5. Oslo, Norway
Oslo has a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 95% by 2030. The city has invested heavily in public transportation, including a comprehensive subway system and a fleet of electric buses. Oslo has also implemented a congestion tax, which has significantly reduced the number of cars on the road.
Oslo has the most ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions in the European Green City Index. By 2030, Oslo aims to reduce emissions by 50% since 1990. Oslo's 100 million Euro Climate and Energy Fund was funded by a tax on electricity, that provides 50% grant for converting oil powered heaters to biofuels.
For heating within the city, Oslo primarily relies on district heating from municipal waste incinerators (waste to energy, or W2E), as well as biomass-fed cogeneration plants. Electric heat pumps also supply heat to many of the city's homes and buildings. Green building practices, such as passive building design, also help maintain heat for the city's buildings.
Oslo plans to convert city busses to bio fuels, which has reduced traffic by 4-7% through introducing a congestion charge. The Oslo Urban Ecology Program has an integrated plan, which was to create a sustainable city. Throughout this website, we will find out how Oslo is one of the most sustainable cities in the world.
6. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and for the first time, the city also defines a target for indirect greenhouse gas emissions per inhabitant. The city has invested in public transportation, including a comprehensive tram system, and has implemented a bike-sharing program. Zurich also has a green building code, which encourages sustainable construction practices.
The Urban Trees Plan (2022) serves as the basis for long-term preservation and promotion of vital urban trees in the city. Overall, the area shaded by trees (crown area) is to increase across the entire city on average from approx. 17 % (state in 2018) to 25 %.
With its Food Strategy, the City of Zurich identifies challenges and opportunities, defines the direction for future measures and consistently implements them in the city's catering businesses. It advocates sustainable procurement criteria throughout the entire value chain, promotes sustainable production, the cooperation of regional actors and short-distance distribution. The City of Zurich has also launched a label of origin (Stadtpur) for local agricultural products and has already been able to reduce food waste in retirement centres by 18 % in 2021.
7. Singapore
Singapore Green Plan 2030 is shaping Asia’s most sustainable city: retrofitting old buildings, super low energy new developments plus a $32 million investment in new technology. Singapore has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 36% by 2030. The city has invested in renewable energy, including solar panels and wind turbines, and has a comprehensive public transportation system. Singapore also has a water recycling program, which has significantly reduced the city's water consumption.
The remarkable progress the city state has made in sustainability in recent years has been driven by the government’s green initiatives and efforts. In February 2021, the government unveiled the ambitious Singapore Green Plan 2030, a whole-nation movement to advance the country’s national agenda on sustainable development
Since 2008, Singapore made green building mandatory and since then tall buildings and other spaces are built as sustainable ecosystems. Finding plants and green spaces in and around buildings is common, the also the interior of the building.
With the introduction of the Smart Nation program in late 2014, Singapore started a nationwide digital revolution and quickly became the leader of the digitalisation wave taking place across Southeast Asia. The programme introduced a series of innovations across different sectors such as Strategic National Projects, Urban Living, Transport, Health, Government Services, and Businesses. Some concrete examples of how the program was implemented are the introduction of a National Digital Identity and of services to facilitate contactless and e-payments, the completion of smart homes relying on environmental-friendly energy sources, as well as green interventions in urban mobility, such as the launch of trials of autonomous buses and shuttles.
8. Helsinki, Finland
The city of Helsinki is the seaside capital of Finland, and recently ranked as the happiest country in the world, with a population of 650,000. Helsinki has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2035. The city has invested in renewable energy, including geothermal energy and solar panels, and has a comprehensive public transportation system. Helsinki has also implemented a bike-sharing program and has a green building code.
Helsinki intends to reduce emissions by, for example, maintaining the functionality of public transportation and streamlining the mobility of pedestrians and cyclists in the city. Furthermore, the new construction efforts include ecological thinking as a key component already in the design phase. The new Tripla compounds in the Pasila district will include 300 charging stations for electric cars, and a third of the roof area will become parking areas with green roofs.
In 2016, Helsinki’s leadership created a City Strategy that seeks to make Helsinki the most functional city in the world. Sustainability and digitalization of services have been made top priorities.
9. Paris, France
Paris has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 and plans to become Europe’s greenest city by 2030. As a response to the climate change imperative, public investments for environmentally friendly projects will increase to €10 billion by 2025 as a means to accelerate the ecological transformation of the Region over the next 5 years.
The city has invested in renewable energy, including wind turbines and solar panels, and has a comprehensive public transportation system. Paris has also implemented a bike-sharing program and has a green building code.
New buildings are being designed with energy efficiency in mind with plans to limit the consumption of energy to 50 kWh/m2/year, as well as promote renewable energy sources on building rooftops and develop green spaces around and on buildings.
In 2019, Paris Region’s government adopted a regional circular economy strategy, centered around 15 themes, in collaboration with a large ecosystem of local players. A recent law aims to reduce waste from single use plastics and packaging, creating more requirements regarding the reuse and recycling of construction waste. The regulations will be phased in between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2023.
Recently in the Paris Region, Vertical farms, rooftop vegetable gardens and urban farms have been flourishing. Urban farming was an element in 60% of the winning projects of the Inventing the Greater Paris Metropolis campaign for innovative urban projects. Currently, Paris Region has 73 hectares of urban agriculture and a dynamic Agritech business ecosystem made of innovative startups shaping the future of the citiy.
10. San Francisco, USA
San Francisco has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. The city has invested in renewable energy, including solar panels and wind turbines, and has a comprehensive public transportation system.
The City has a goal that by 2030, 80% of trips will be taken by low-carbon modes of transport such as walking, cycling, and public transit. Standing at nearly 50% of total city emissions, the transportation system will be reduced and transformed to minimize reliance on cars; instead it will equitably and efficiently connect people to where they want to go.
The initiatives feature discounts for 100% renewable energy for low-income customers, rebates to replace fossil fuel powered appliances, and incentives to promote the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
