The Most Eco-Conscious Cities in the World | Compare the Market AUS (2024)

Looking at our specific initiatives, Australia comes top for recycling, with the nation successfully recycling 52.90% of their recyclable materials.

When it comes to vegan restaurants, Milan and Rome score well, at 80.15 and 71.67 per 100,000 respectively; with Amsterdam faring well for sustainable hotels, placing third highest on our list at 71.94%.

For CO2 emissions, Bucharest has the second least amount, at 3.740 tonnes, with Porto and Lisbon the joint fourth least, at 4.051; showing there are plenty of cities who are actively eco-conscious in several ways.

Looking outside of Europe, Canberra is the first city outside of the continent to feature on our list in 28th place, with Perth the second in 44th place. When it comes to North America, Toronto makes the first appearance in 51st place, followed by Austin, San Francisco, and New York City.

Easy ways to live more sustainably

It can be all-too easy to think that one person isn’t going to make a difference, but that’s simply not true. Playing your part in being more environmentally-friendly can help your city become more sustainable, with these easy tips showing some ways you can do so.

1. Reduce your meat consumption

Farming animals has one of the biggest negative impacts on climate change, so by cutting your meat intake, you’ll be helping to free up land to plant more trees. Even cutting your meat intake for a couple of days a week can help – and it means you’ll be eating healthier, too.

2. Use reusable cups, bottles, and bags

Coffee cups contribute to plastic waste, and if you can’t go without a cup of coffee on your morning commute, then investing in a reusable cup can be hugely beneficial to the environment – not to mention, many coffee shops offer discounts for people who use them.

The same goes for reusable bags when shopping – switch them out from the plastic bags you pay for, and you can use them for years on end.

3. Donate old items

Whether you’ve got a load of clothes you don’t wear anymore, furniture that no longer fits with your décor, or a load of CDs and DVDs, rather than binning them and contributing to landfill, why not donate or sell them instead? Most cities have donation drop off points if you can’t make it in-store; or if you want to make some cash, utilise the likes of Vinted, eBay, and Depop.

The Most Eco-Conscious Cities in the World | Compare the Market AUS (2024)

FAQs

What is the most eco city in the world? ›

A breakdown of the world's greenest cities
  1. Oslo. Oslo is by far the greenest city on Earth. ...
  2. Reykjavík. This beautiful city runs on 100% renewable energy, thanks to its investment in hydropower and geothermal energy. ...
  3. San Francisco. ...
  4. Stockholm. ...
  5. Copenhagen. ...
  6. Helsinki. ...
  7. Sydney. ...
  8. Vancouver.
Nov 21, 2023

What are Australia's most sustainable cities? ›

Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane were ranked amongst 100 of the world's cities on the three pillars of sustainability as measured by the 2022 Index: planet, people, and profit. Sydney is the highest-placed Australian city in the index, and the only one to break the top third of the rankings at 33.

How did Melbourne become Australia's most sustainable city? ›

Melbourne has implemented various policies to promote sustainable building practices. The city requires new buildings to meet strict energy efficiency standards, and the city has invested in retrofitting existing buildings to improve energy efficiency.

What is the eco capital of the world? ›

Here, we have compiled a list of the top 10 green cities in the world, updated for 2023. 1. Copenhagen, Denmark: Known for its bike-friendly streets and commitment to carbon neutrality, Copenhagen has long been considered one of the greenest cities in the world. The city has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2025.

What is the top 1 sustainable city? ›

Oslo tops the list of the world's most sustainable cities because of its efforts to preserve its green spaces – a whopping 47% of Oslo is green. Additionally, the city's use of mainly renewable energy means it's on track to achieve almost zero emissions in 2030.

What is America's greenest city? ›

San Diego is the “greenest,” or most environmentally sustainable, city in the United States, according to a report released Wednesday by personal finance company WalletHub. Following the California city are Honolulu; Portland, Oregon; Washington, D.C.; and Seattle as the five greenest U.S. cities.

What is Australia ranked in environmental sustainability? ›

Australia has climbed just four places to rank 55th out of 63 in this year's global Climate Change Performance Index 2023, launched at COP27 in Egypt, a slight improvement on last year's where it came in dead last for climate policy.

What is the greenest capital city in Australia? ›

Brisbane has been a leader in sustainability for over 20 years and is recognised as Australia's most biodiverse and green capital city.

Is Australia big on sustainability? ›

Across Australia, the demand for eco-friendly and ethical goods and services has been gaining momentum. For several consumers, sustainability has become a key purchase criterion in their shopping journeys, alongside the societal impacts of their product acquisitions.

What is the least sustainable city in Australia? ›

In contrast, under this comparative analysis, Newcastle, Geelong and finally Perth are Australia's least sustainable cities of those surveyed. Improved energy and water efficiency for both households and workplaces (protecting us against future price rises).

Why is Melbourne more liveable than Sydney? ›

The cost of living in Melbourne is much lower than in Sydney. Hence, you can live a more comfortable lifestyle near the Victorian capital on less money. Also, Melbourne offers some serious deals on real estate. As per the June quarter of 2021, the average house price in Melbourne sits at $1,022,927.

Why choose Melbourne over other cities in Australia? ›

Melbourne is cosmopolitan

Around 140 cultures are represented in Melbourne, creating a diverse and welcoming environment for people from all over the globe. For this reason, Melbourne is generally considered the best place for international students in Australia.

Which is the greenest city in the world? ›

1. World's Greenest City: Copenhagen. The capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen is situated on the eastern edge of the island of Zealand. The coastal city was named Europe's coolest green city by the 'Ecologist' magazine to showcase its climate friendliness.

What is the least eco friendly city in the world? ›

The least sustainable cities in the world
  1. Mexico City, Mexico. Coming bottom of our list, 0% of the city's energy comes from renewable energy sources, with only two other cities scoring so low – Jakarta and Tokyo. ...
  2. Johannesburg, South Africa. ...
  3. Jakarta, Indonesia. ...
  4. Ljubljana, Slovenia. ...
  5. Detroit, USA.
Feb 24, 2023

What is the most eco friendly place on earth? ›

Most Eco Friendly Places To Visit On Earth
  • Iceland. ...
  • The Azores Islands. ...
  • Costa Rica. ...
  • New Zealand. ...
  • Norway.

Which country has the highest eco? ›

The United States upholds its status as the major global economy and richest country, steadfastly preserving its pinnacle position from 1960 to 2023. Its economy boasts remarkable diversity, propelled by important sectors, including services, manufacturing, finance, and technology.

What is the most unsustainable city in the world? ›

Our waste is taken to remote landfill sites, the cities are designed for cars, and sprawl is the norm.” In his 2011 book Bird on Fire, the New York University sociologist Andrew Ross branded Phoenix the least sustainable city in the world.

Which city has the most green? ›

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen has long been regarded as one of the most green cities in the world, and perhaps the most green major city.

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