Best Green Cities: 12 Greenest Cities In The World And Why

Around the world, more people and societies are focusing on building a sustainable future on this planet, and green cities are a big part of that movement. Learn what makes a city green and the best green cities to visit or move to.

According to the World Bank, over 50% of the world’s population lives in cities or urban areas, and that number is expected to increase over the next few decades. Therefore, greening our cities is essential to a sustainable future. This blog highlights 12 of the most environmentally friendly cities that are prioritizing sustainability and the unique approaches each one takes. 

• What Makes A City Green?
• 12 Greenest Cities In The World

Going green is about action. Explore how Unity fosters sustainability within the university and beyond.

What Makes A City Green?

What are green cities? A green city is a city that actively works to foster the health and well-being of its people and the natural environment. Often, we look at government policies, community practices, and infrastructure to determine whether a city is “green” or not. 

However, the greenness of a city actually exists on a spectrum and is multi-faceted. There is no such thing as the greenest city. The greenest cities in the world are those that are doing more to be sustainable when compared to other cities. The greenness of a city includes the following factors and more:

• The availability of green spaces
• Public transportation options
• Bikeability
• Renewable energy options
• Carbon footprint
• Recycling programs

What Makes A University Green?

An eco-friendly city and an eco-friendly university have a lot in common, including sustainable buildings, community farms and gardens, and ethically sourced goods. For Unity Environmental University, an essential part of going green was completely divesting from fossil fuels and investing in renewable clean energy instead. Ultimately, being a green university is about prioritizing sustainability as a core value and guiding principle for the institution.

12 Greenest Cities In The World

Urban areas around the world are striving to become more environmentally friendly as we continue to grapple with the negative effects of climate change. Many of the world’s greenest cities focus on mitigating those effects by minimizing their carbon footprint, shifting to renewable sources for energy, and improving public transportation. Other cities are taking innovative approaches to integrating green spaces and urban farming. 

This list of the top 12 greenest cities is the result of a holistic review of the most environmentally friendly urban areas in the world. They are not listed in any particular order.

Singapore

Singapore has some of the lowest rates of air and water pollution in the world. The city also enforces energy efficiency standards for buildings and vehicles, and it has a carbon tax. What makes this green city truly stand out as a leader in sustainable urban development is its green spaces. Singapore has hundreds of miles of hiking and cycling trails, and the Garden by the Bay is known worldwide as a horticulture masterpiece. These green spaces not only provide residents with beautiful natural spaces in their own neighborhoods but also improve environmental conditions by mitigating heat and enhancing biodiversity.

San Diego, California, U.S.A.

California has stricter environmental regulations than most other states in the United States. This means cities in California, including San Diego, are held to high standards on building codes and vehicle emissions. San Diego stands out from other green cities in the U.S. for its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035. The city receives more sun than almost any other in the country, making solar power very effective. Other sustainability efforts unique to San Diego include stormwater collection at the airport and water conservation initiatives for residents and businesses.

Find the best U.S. cities to relocate to if you want a job that’s going to make a positive environmental impact.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Many people consider Cophenhagen to be the world’s greenest city. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, stands out for its ingenuity with bike infrastructure. It’s known to be a very bike-friendly city, and over half of residents commute to work or school by bicycle. Like many other cities on this list, Copenhagen is on a mission to become carbon neutral. Urban horticulture and agriculture are also popular in the city as are electric cars and recycling programs. All of these factors are helping Cophenhgen reach its sustainability goals.

Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the capital city of Norway. The city highly encourages people to buy electric cars when shopping for a new vehicle, and this initiative is paying off. 82% of new car sales in the city in 2023 were for electric cars. This emphasis on sustainable transportation helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. This, in conjunction with other sustainability efforts, earned Oslo the number one position on the 2022 Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index.

Zurich, Switzerland

If you want a great example of what a thriving green city looks like, visit Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland. Approximately 90% of Zurich’s power grid uses renewable energy, which is impressive for a metropolitan area with over 1 million people. It’s easy to make eco-friendly choices here with many zero-waste and plant-based restaurants to choose from. There are also free bikes for residents and visitors to use. They are placed strategically throughout the city. Lastly, Zurich has a mission that by 2050, the city’s energy consumption will only be 2,000 watts per person per year.

Discover what it takes to become a landscape architect and design urban green spaces for a living.

Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba may be unfamiliar to many Americans, but it was the first city to establish a comprehensive bus rapid transport system. This south Brazilian city continues to make cutting-edge improvements, including the Green Exchange Program which allows residents to trade recyclables for fresh produce. Curitiba’s ubiquitous green spaces are carefully designed to help manage stormwater in addition to providing opportunities for residents to enjoy nature. It is certainly one of the greenest in South America.

Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Portland is known to be an environmentally-conscious city on the West Coast of the U.S., so it’s easy to find sustainable products and businesses like sustainable hotels. In 2012, Portland expanded zoning code regulations to allow for more urban farming, including community gardens and farmers’ markets. Residents can also keep bees and livestock in their backyards in residential areas without a permit. Portland has over 300 miles of cycling trails and an extensive public transportation system. Natural spaces for outdoor recreation are accessible for all residents even if they don’t have a car.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik gets most of its power and heat from geothermal energy harnessed from underground volcanic activity. The city is well on its way to reaching its goal of becoming fossil-fuel-free by 2050. It’s already one of the greenest cities in the world in terms of air quality. Eco-friendly tourism and regenerative travel are also prevalent in Reykjavik, making it a great vacation destination for the environmentally-conscious traveler. 

Governments and institutions can divest from fossil fuels as a way to shift toward sustainability.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and home to over 10% of the nation’s population. It’s also a coastal city of an island nation, making it more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, than many other cities. Tokyo has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 to improve sustainability. This comes in addition to the many other environmentally-conscious elements that are already an integral part of life in Tokyo, from comprehensive recycling programs to widely-used public transportation. 

Lahti, Finland

Lahti is one of the green towns or smaller cities that may be less familiar than the major cities on this list. However, Lahti is far ahead of most other urban areas in reaching its goal of being carbon neutral. While most cities are aiming to hit this mark in the next 15-25 years, Lahti is on track to be carbon neutral in the next 1-2 years! The city is also very creative in trying new sustainability programs such as urban ski-sharing and apps that incentivize residents to make more environmentally friendly choices like eating less meat or biking to work. 

Seattle, Washington, U.S.A

Seattle is known as a hub of technology and innovation in the U.S. The 2022 Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index ranked Seattle first in the world for sustainable business practices. It’s also one of the world’s greenest cities due to its focus on waste management and relying solely on renewable energy. Here are some of the sustainability initiatives that the city has taken:

• Using hydropower as much as possible for the city’s power grid
• Banning plastic straws and single-use plastic bags
• Incentive programs for LEED buildings
• Intentionally creating walkable communities

Stockholm, Sweden

People are one of the three pillars of sustainability, and Stockholm’s approach emphasizes the human rights aspect of environmental challenges. Environmental issues and sustainability are regular topics for Stockholm residents in school, at work, and in pop culture. Because of this, a high percentage of residents participate in recycling programs. The city is also taking a unique approach to city planning by involving citizens as consultants to share what improvements they want to see, such as better bike lanes and pedestrian paths in certain areas.

Pursue A Degree At Unity Environmental University From Any Green City In The U.S.

If you want to help make cities and towns greener, consider becoming an urban planner. Urban planners play a vital role in the planning, development, and growth of communities. It’s also one of the highest-paying environmental careers. If you want to work in the ecotourism industry, a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Destination Management or Regenerative Hotel Management are great options to get you into the industry. With bachelor’s and master’s degree programs completely online, you can attend Unity Environmental University from any green town or city in the U.S.

We also provide training and development solutions to help businesses foster more sustainable workplaces. Learn more about this Sustainable Venture and check out our other current partnerships and projects to see why Unity Environmental University is regarded as a leader in environmental science and sustainability.

Source: “The Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2022.” Arcadis, www.arcadis.com/en-us/knowledge-hub/perspectives/global/sustainable-cities-index