Top 10 Eco-Friendly Cities In The World To Visit

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

Where in the world can you swim in a busy urban harbor, ski down the roof of a green-energy power station, drive a solar-powered boat, stay in an eco-friendly hotel and dine on organic food on every street corner? The answer is Copenhagen, the world’s greenest major city. A significant landmark is Copenhill, which turns waste into energy to supply tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and it is covered by a year-round artificial ski and snowboard slope. All buses are changing from diesel to electric, while more and more road surfaces are devoted to cycling, and this is a city where bikes rule the road. The city has lots of parks and green spaces, and a 70-acre nature reserve is being planned. The buildings are constructed with sustainable design in mind, such as grass roofs that filter rainwater and insulate the building. More than two-thirds of the city’s hotels hold an eco-certificate, and restaurants use organic ingredients. Recycling is taken seriously in this city, with vending-style machines returning a deposit when you insert a can or plastic cup. The city aims to become carbon-neutral by 2025. Denmark is well known as one of the happiest places on Earth, and Copenhagen, one of the best cities to live in.

2. Helsinki, Finland

Ecological thinking is strongly present in everyday life in Helsinki, and the city places great emphasis on encouraging environmentally-friendly lifestyles. Sustainable development is achieved by motivating less consumption, eco-friendly construction efforts, and ambitious climate aims. The residential areas, surrounded by parks, forests and the sea, reminds visitors and residents of their everyday choices as contributors to environmentally friendly development. The development of public transportation, waste recycling and decreasing unnecessary consumption are all key components for smart and sustainable living. Its current climate goal is becoming carbon-neutral by 2035, and cutting greenhouse emissions by 60% by 2030. Helsinki intends to reduce emissions by maintaining public transportation system, and streamlining the mobility of pedestrians and cyclists in the city. New construction efforts include ecological thinking as a key component in the design phase. Helsinki and its residents are also aiming to reduce lavish over-consumption by following the principle - Not everything needs to be bought new, and not everything needs to be owned.

3. Curitiba, Brazil

The city became one of the greenest and sustainable cities by improving its transport systems, green areas, social conditions and recycling initiatives. A bus rapid transit system was put into practice which is efficient, affordable and sustainable. To avoid congestion in central areas, various streets in the city centre were pedestrianized, and bike lanes run throughout the entire city. Green spaces have increased a lot. The city suffered from excessive flooding and instead of constructing concrete barriers, a greenbelt was developed circling the city. The grass growth is controlled by sheep grazing, which eat the grass, produce manure for local producers and also produce wool. In regard to recycling, an exchange system was created where citizens could exchange trash for bus tokens, notebooks or food. Now, 70% of the garbage is recycled. Socially, employment was increased to propel urban sustainability. Citizenship streets, job training and educational programs help Curitiba to have the highest literacy rates and educational attainment in all of Brazil.

4. Singapore

Singapore, sometimes referred to as The Garden City, is undoubtedly the leader among Asian countries for eco-friendliness. Some of Singapore’s most visible green initiatives are eco-friendly hotels with rolling gardens and waterfalls, rainwater harvesting programs, and living walls. Singapore’s largest green initiative is Gardens by the Bay. The buildings are designed with green initiatives to create a sustainable environment. Sky forest on the rooftops help with cooling the office towers. Singapore boasts of the world’s largest vertical garden on one of its condos which is covered in greenery that reduces carbon dioxide and significantly minimizes the complex’s carbon footprint. Environmentalism has pervaded every nook of the Singaporean society – even shopping! Today, there are several brands offering eco-friendly products. Eco-friendly fashion brands promise clothes that have been ethically-made with organic fabrics and natural dyes. Singapore has been successful at becoming Asia’s most eco-friendly country because the government has worked hard to create cosmopolitan living in a small space. By steering residents away from urban sprawl and making sure the city is full of green spaces, as well as being close to transportation and other amenities, the city is able to create a model of efficiency.

5. San Francisco, United States

San Francisco ranks as the most environmentally friendly city in the U.S. Seven of America’s Top 10 green cities are located in California. The ranking is based on four main categories: environment, transportation, energy sources, and lifestyle and policy issues. Individual gauges of a city’s greenness include air and water quality, walkability and bicycle-friendliness, the number of commuters who drive, renewable energy sources, amount of farmers’ markets, and green jobs. The City by the Bay comes in Number 1 in the U.S. for environmentally friendly lifestyles and San Francisco is also one of the five American cities with the fewest number of residents who commute to work by car and one of the five most bicycle-friendly. San Francisco also shines for its park system. San Francisco is the only major American city where every resident lives within a 10-minute walk of a green space, and also the one of the best in the country for environmentally friendly careers.

6. Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa

Cape Town was voted one of ten cities in the world that will become a global sustainability centre by 2020. It is a beautiful, eco-friendly destination committed to solid planning and construction principles. The sustainable development program aims to have 10% of homes using solar power and 10% of the city’s energy consumption coming from renewable sources by 2020 to help deal with the growing energy needs of the city. Tourists are now more aware of sustainability and green tourism practices, and Cape Town city offers these, being increasingly mindful of the impact that humanity has on the planet. Sustainability is the way of the future, and Cape Town is proudly leading that way. It is also one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Durban (South-Africa) has been selected as the one of the greenest cities in the world. Green spaces are the lungs of cities, improving air quality, managing flooding and rainwater, and contributing to the physical and mental health of citizens. As urbanization continues, it is vital to monitor the proportion between grey and green areas. The green rating is based on the highest percentage of urban green space, best health of vegetation, highest percentage of urban area covered by grass and bushes, highest percentage of urban area covered by trees, best distribution of green space, and most green space per capita. Durban scores high on the percentage of green space combined with great distribution and health of vegetation.



Johannesburg has been declared the country’s most environmentally friendly metro area. The city suffers from high levels of traffic congestion, growing urbanization, high crime rates, and extensive new construction, making it difficult for the city to balance economic expansion with environmental protection. But the city has also taken some long-term measures to mitigate its impact on climate change, to fund projects that help manage the city’s waste, build a greener economy, reduce the effects of climate change, and create job opportunities. It is one of the few cities that has encouraged businesses to invest in biogas projects, solar power initiatives, and dual-fuel buses.

7. Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is leading the North American continent in social, environmental and economic sustainability efforts. Vancouver scored well in a number of categories, notably air pollution – the city received the highest score worldwide in this measure. With the lowest carbon footprint of any major city in North America, Vancouver has a number of policies and programs in place to reduce emissions, stemming from the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan. The city also scores well in terms of transit infrastructure. The city boasts an extensive network of bike lanes and car sharing co-ops, and a new bike share program was introduced. An accessible transit system combined with a walkable downtown core makes it easy and eco-friendly to get around.

8. Columbia, Missouri, United States

The city of Columbia has a municipal-owned electric and water utility that is at the forefront of energy conservation programs and renewable energy production, and is striving to achieve goals of reducing carbon emissions. The city operates a solid waste utility that is responsible for trash and recycling collection. Non-motorized transportation and mass transit help keep traffic to a minimum and give the residents cleaner air to breathe. The city’s conservation program works to protect and restore Columbia’s native habitats through public education, conservation assistance programs, and by implementing best management practices on its public lands. The city’s stormwater program helps educate local residents about what stormwater is, how it becomes polluted, and how individuals can help protect our local streams, creeks and recreational waterways.

9. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is the first ever European Green Capital. Amazingly, 100% of the energy in Stockholm comes from renewable sources! 99% of Stockholm’s solid waste is recycled. 96% of the hotels in Stockholm have an environmental certification. Stockholm has one of the cleanest tap water in the world. Stockholm has 1/3 green area, 1/3 water, 1/3 built area. Stockholm has a goal to be a fossil-fuel free city by 2040. Green thinking is evident in every part of Stockholm hospitality such as; transports, venues, hotels and activities. Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is the world’s leading sustainable airport using green approaches such as a system permitting approaching aircraft to descend continuously from cruising altitude to the runway, using almost no engine thrust, thereby saving fuel and reducing emissions. Sustainable transport from the airport to downtown Stockholm is by Arlanda Express high speed train, and eco-labelled airport shuttles (bio gas/ethanol buses). The public transport is well maintained with modern subway, trams, commuter trains, eco-friendly taxis, buses and a community bicycle program. The city’s hotels are world leading when it comes to environmental thinking.

10. Oslo, Norway

Three of Oslo’s green goals are to reduce car traffic by one-third by 2030, make the port greener and reduce emission with at least 50% by 2030, and work with the transport industry and authorities to create more eco-friendly forms of transporting freight, as opposed to heavy duty vehicles. As 30% of all vehicles that are sold in Oslo is now electric, Oslo has earned the title: “The Electric Vehicle Capital of the World.” This is part of the city’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050. Oslo, with its buzzing city centre and lush surroundings, was named the European Green Capital 2019 for its dedication to conserving natural areas and reducing pollution. Oslo aims to reduce food waste in schools and reduce emissions by 95 percent by 2030. Many central areas of the city are now traffic-free. The waterfront area now has paths for pedestrians and cyclists.




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Images:

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