The 10 Most Sustainable Cities According to Latest Rankings
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The world’s top sustainable cities, like Helsinki, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen, prove that urban living and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. Helsinki leads the way, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, while Gothenburg runs on 65% renewable energy, and Copenhagen is home to one of the world’s most extensive cycling networks.
Researchers evaluated 40 cities using four key metrics to determine the top sustainable cities. Each city was ranked based on destination management organization (DMO) performance, social, supplier, and environmental factors.
According to the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS), these are the world’s top 10 sustainable cities.
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Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki received a score of 92.43% from GDS, making it the number one city for sustainability. This is a 24.74% increase from the city’s 2019 score five years ago. It scored particularly well in the environmental category, with reports indicating that over 50% of Helsinki’s electricity comes from renewables.
Furthermore, the city’s 2030 carbon reduction target is 80%. According to the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, Helsinki aims to be carbon-zero by 2040. The city has already reduced its emissions by 25% since 1990.
Finland’s capital also scored well in terms of sustainable hotel rooms and venues. The GDS Index reports that 88% of hotel rooms and 100% of venues in Helsinki are sustainability-certified.
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Gothenburg, Sweden
With a score of 90.83%, Gothenburg, Sweden, fell less than 2% short of first place. Although its score dropped from 94.64% in 2023 to 90.83% in 2024, it still scored well for environmental factors. The city gets 69% of its electricity from renewable sources, and there are 38,501 acres (15,581 hectares) of green area per 100,000 population.
According to the Gothenburg European Office, the city produces sustainable energy from wind, solar, and waste-to-energy plants. It also uses district heating, which recovers heat from waste incineration and industrial processes. The Sävenäs waste-to-energy plant supplies 5% of Gothenburg’s electricity.
From a social standpoint, Gothenburg scored 86 for personal safety and 91 for inclusion.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark, is the third top sustainable city in the world, with a total score of 88.19%. The city gets 66% of its electricity from renewables, 15% more than Helsinki and 3% less than Gothenburg. The Danish capital also aims to be the first carbon-neutral capital in 2025.
Since 2005, Copenhagen has reduced its carbon emissions by 25%. To become more sustainable, the city has introduced various environmentally friendly plans. In 2022, 43% of the city’s bus operations ran on electricity. Meanwhile, 49% of all trips to work or school are made by bike.
Copenhagen scored best in the social category, with an overall score of 97%. It scored 88 for inclusion and personal safety and 90 for corruption perception.
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Bergen, Norway
Bergen, Norway, scores 86.49%, making it the fourth-top city globally for sustainability. This Scandinavian city performed well in relation to DMO, scoring 91%. Bergen is the largest destination in Norway to have been awarded the nation’s Sustainable Destination Label. This label indicates that Bergen is following a plan to develop sustainable tourism.
Visit Bergen is also praised for having a clear sustainability strategy and regularly reporting on the city’s sustainability performance. Copenhagen also scores well in the environmental category. 95% of the city’s electricity comes from renewables, and the primary aim is to be fossil-fuel-free by 2030.
That means no fossil fuels will be used for heating, city services, or public transport.
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Aarhus, Denmark
Aarhus is the fifth-ranked sustainable city, with an overall score of 85.68%. Denmark’s second-largest city scored the highest in social metrics, with a total score of 97%. This included a score of 88 for inclusion and personal safety and 90 for corruption perception.
Sustainability, diversity, and democracy are three core values that describe Aarhus. The city is helped by Denmark’s position in the upper echelons of various world rankings. This includes being the best country for women in the world in 2023.
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Aarhus also performed well in the environmental metrics. The city has set its sights on becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Renewables already produce 72% of electricity.
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Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux received an overall score of 83.37%, making it the world’s sixth top city for sustainability. The city ranked best for DMO, scoring 93%. A significant factor behind this is the city’s commitment to sustainable tourism.
According to Bordeaux Tourism, the Bordeaux Tourist and Congress Office has a clear sustainability strategy. This strategy aims to “generate a positive impact on inhabitants, visitors, and the environment.” This includes reducing waste, reducing the city’s carbon footprint, and increasing the sustainable skills of tourism professionals.
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Bordeaux has also been ISO 20121 certified for its sustainable management. The city’s climate plan aims to make it carbon-neutral by 2050.
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Singapore, Singapore
Singapore is one of the best up-and-coming sustainable cities. In 2022, the city scored 71.14% on the GDS Index. Two years later, the city ranked seventh with an overall score of 83.37%. Only 3% of electricity comes from renewables, and only 27% of hotels are sustainably certified.
However, the city’s sustainable strategy going forward has been praised. According to Earth.org, Singapore is a leader in green urban development. The city plans to build a 42,000-house residential area with several sustainable features, including automated trash collection systems and pedestrian-friendly zones.
Singapore raises awareness of sustainability on a social level through the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which aims to plant one million trees and reduce landfill waste by 30%.
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Oslo, Norway
Oslo scores 83.26%, making it the world’s eighth top city for sustainability. Norway’s capital scored 83% for DMO metrics. The city’s sustainability strategy focuses heavily on green tourism certification, waste management and recycling, and sustainable transport.
According to the World Future Energy Summit, Oslo has introduced more cycle lanes and electric charging points to improve sustainable transport figures. This will aid the city in its efforts to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Oslo scored the strongest in the supplier metrics, with an overall score of 93%. 100% of venues and 97% of hotel rooms are sustainably certified.
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Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
GDS ranked Belfast as the ninth most sustainable city in the world. Northern Ireland’s capital received a score of 83.14%. It scored highest in the DMO category, with a total score of 90%. The city released its Resilience Strategy in 2022.
This strategy sets out 30 transformational programs that aim to transition Belfast into a zero-emissions, climate-resilient, and inclusive economy. As the city’s leading DMO, Visit Belfast is pivotal in supporting the Resilience Strategy’s ambitions.
In Belfast, 100% of venues and 77% of hotel rooms are sustainably certified. The city’s carbon reduction target is 80% by 2030.
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Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia, Singapore, and Helsinki were the only cities in GDS’s top 10 sustainable cities rankings that received an increase in their scores from last year. In 2023, Sydney received an overall score of 77.21%. In 2024, the city’s score rose to 83.13%, making it the tenth city for sustainability.
Sydney ranked well for environmental, DMO, and social metrics. Destination NSW, BESydney, and the City of Sydney work together to drive sustainability across the city.
By 2035, the city aims to achieve net zero emissions. In 2020, it was announced that Sydney is 100% powered by renewable energy, with most power coming from local solar and wind farms.
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