Think of London, and greenery probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. After all, more than 270 skyscrapers have been built in the city over the past decade, and 600 more are lined up.
And yet, the UK capital has landed itself a spot among the world’s most sustainable cities. According to a new Green City Index from Reinders Corporation, a climate solutions company, London ranks 10th globally for sustainability, scoring a respectable 66.85. In fact, according to some experts, the city is technically a forest – did you know that more than a fifth of London is trees?
The study did a deep dive into cities around the world using six eco essentials: the quality of green spaces, renewable energy usage, air quality, public transport, bike-friendliness, and the implementation of tourist taxes. Each category was weighted based on its relative impact on a destination’s sustainability, before being combined into a final Green City Score.
RECOMMENDED: The world’s 20 best cities for green space and nature
In short: this isn’t just about a few nice parks, it’s about how well a city functions for both people and the planet. Basically, the higher the score, the better the environment.
London’s public transport was praised with a score of 64.5/100 and with cycling rising by 12.7 percent in the past year, it’s not surprising that ‘bikeability’ was rated 49.7/100.
But a Canadian city toppped the ranks, with Vancouver taking the number one spot with a score of 101.71. The North American country is clearly doing something right, with both Montreal (77.71) and Toronto (69.72) also featuring in the top 10.
Europe, however, led the continental charge with Oslo, Norway (100.57) and Stockholm, Sweden (94.87) taking second and third place.
Gerrit Jan Reinders, CEO of Reinders Corporation said: ‘With climate change and urban growth, understanding which cities excel in sustainability has never been more critical.
‘This study highlights that eco-friendly living and vibrant, modern city life can thrive together. London also demonstrates that even large, historic cities can prioritise sustainable transport.’
The world’s 10 most sustainable cities
- Vancouver, Canada
- Oslo, Norway
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Munich, Germany
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Montreal, Canada
- San Francisco, US
- Toronto, Canada
- London, UK
Did you see that this Mediterranean country is opening climate shelters to protect locals from heatwaves?
Plus: All the best Boxing Day and January flight deals to look out for.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.