Being environmentally conscious is a topic that gains more and more attention on a daily basis. The main reason behind this is the fact that planet Earth is more polluted today than it ever was before. Additionally, the rate of contamination is growing at a worrying rate.
By reducing carbon emissions, which is crucial in solving this problem, several cities stand out on their path to becoming “green” cities. Therefore, we present five ecological international cities that according to the Index of Sustainable Cities, set a great example.
- Stockholm, Sweden
The city of Stockholm is strategically committed to reducing their carbon footprint and improving air quality, which coincidentally are the same reasons why they find themselves on top of this list.
One-third of the city consists of green areas, which includes 12 large parks and the city’s government also supports residents in the process of creating new green areas. Stockholm is also known for recycling waste, from which they create biogas, and has gone on to become the first city to win the title of the European Green Capital, having reduced its emissions of harmful gases by 25% since 1990.
- Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt demonstrates its commitment to improving energy performance by developing an energy efficient production process. This city implements the policy of “Green Public Procurement”, which is particularly significant in the construction sector. Since 1999, the use of tropical wood and PVC in construction processes have been banned, and strategic guidelines for efficient construction have been created.
The amount of waste has been decreasing for years, and the city has also invested in modern equipment for sorting, processing, and recycling, which is located in the city center, reducing the need for transport.
- Zurich, Switzerland
One of the main reasons why Zurich finds itself on this list is its commitment to protecting the environment through investments in sustainable energy sources and energy efficiency. The best example of this is the fact that Zurich aims to reduce energy consumption to just 2,000 watts per person. At the same time, it is interesting to note that the Swiss are the champions of recycling. 94% of old glass and 81% of plastic waste are disposed of for recycling.
The public transport system of this city also makes it an extremely sustainable and functional model, which makes Zurich an exceptionally positive example of a “green city”.
- Vienna, Austria
In addition to a large number of green areas decorating the city, Vienna simultaneously offers numerous opportunities for using environmentally friendly means of transport, such as city bikes or Segways. Their highly developed bicycle infrastructure makes use of bicycles in this city very easy. Another alternative is their “eco taxi”, which uses hybrid or natural gas as fuel.
Vienna is also a paradise for lovers of eco-clothing. Several dozen stores of different styles, offer products that are in accordance with bio-quality, recycled or vegan-style standards, and are also created under fair working conditions.
- Copenhagen, Denmark
Citizens of Copenhagen mainly use bikes as their main means of transportation, regardless of weather conditions. The people of this Scandinavian capital ride their bikes so much, they actually outnumber the number of cars. This is just one of the initiatives that make the capital of Denmark sustainable and environmentally friendly. At the same time, the city aims to become the first carbon-neutral city in the world by 2025.
Some of the initiatives that represent a positive and green example are the architecture and infrastructure of Copenhagen. This includes the creation of “green roofs” and new green surfaces, the replacement of diesel-run public transport, with buses that run on electric power, ensuring (and retaining) the quality of their drinking water, continuous afforestation, and the like.