Cities are bustling with business, innovations, cultures, and vigor. By 2050, 2/3 of the global population will live in cities. But as climate change continues, cities are at more and more risk. Up to 90% of cities are on coastlines, making them more vulnerable to storms and rising sea levels.
Luckily, cities across the world are adapting and trying to become more eco-friendly. Below are the 5 most sustainable cities in the world and what they’re doing as leaders:
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is often considered as one of the most sustainable cities in the world. As early as 2009, the city set their eyes on becoming the world’s first carbon neutral capital by 2025 with its CPH 2025 Climate Plan.
Copenhagen’s green initiatives include:
- Energy-efficient heating for almost every house
- Cooling systems that use 70% less energy compared to mainstream ACs
- Super cycle highways, which has encouraged 45% of residents to bike to work or school every day
2. San Francisco, California
The Bay Area is known for tech innovations, housing big-name companies such as Salesforce, Airbnb, Uber, and Twitter. San Francisco is also a leader in energy-efficient technology.
Some of its key sustainable projects include:
- Clean public transit with hybrid buses. Over 50% of MUNI buses are zero-emissions
- Reduced water consumption with residents consuming 49 gallons a day. The national average is 80-100 gallons
- Advancements in sustainable food, recycling, and composting systems
3. Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver has a long history of being a leader in sustainability. In 1990, the city released one of North America’s first climate reports, called “The Clouds of Change.” Also, Vancouver currently has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per resident than any other major city in North America. Building from the report, Vancouver revealed its Greenest City Action Plan in 2012. The plan sets several goals to achieve by 2020, such as:
- Adding more green jobs
- Constructing more green buildings
- Reducing emissions
The city is also aiming to get all of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. This includes transport, electricity, cooling, and heating energy.
4. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm, recognized as the first “European Green Capital” by the European Commission in 2010, has made a name for itself in sustainability. The city is both attractive for newcomers and eco-friendly.
Stockholm had set a goal to be fossil-fuel free by 2050. To accomplish this, the whole of Sweden has moved from oil to district heating. This system uses centralized sources, like power stations, which can more efficiently heat or cool buildings. With district heating accounting for more than 80% of all apartment heating, Stockholm and the rest of Sweden is reducing emissions.
The residents of Stockholm are also pushing the city to be more sustainable. 80% of them believe it is the city’s duty to encourage residents to be more eco-friendly.
5. Singapore
Considered one of the most progressive regions in Asia, this city-state has created a Sustainable Development Blueprint. This document consists of sustainability goals to accomplish by 2030. Singapore aims to increase energy efficiency by 35%, make sure 80% of buildings are certified green, and have 80% of houses be no more than a 10-minute walk from a train station.
Singapore has also made transportation more eco-friendly. It has set a limit on car ownership for its residents and improved public transportation.
References:
https://stateofgreen.com/en/profiles/city-of-copenhagen
https://sweden.se/nature/7-examples-of-sustainability-in-sweden/
http://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/17/sustainable-singapore-a-model-to-be-replicated.html
https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/five-sustainable-cities-making-difference-planet
