Amsterdam – A new study has revealed that Zurich is the most sustainable global city. Zurich scored particularly high in the categories of environmental and economic sustainability. The city of Geneva also scored well.
The consulting firm Arcadis examined 100 of the world’s leading cities on all continents according to what it calls the “three pillars of sustainability”: social (people), environmental (planet) and economic (profit).
In its Sustainable Cities Index, the city of Zurich leads the world for sustainability, coming first in the overall ranking and environmental sustainability. According to the index, Zurich topped the planet sub-index because of its commitment to becoming a 2000-watt society by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city is investing and focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable mobility and mobility for the future. Arcadis also called the city’s public transit “a sustainable model for other cities”.
Zurich also ranked for economic sustainability, coming in fifth place in the profit sub-index . The city came in 27th for social sustainability, in part due to the high cost of living.
The city of Geneva also made it into the top 20 by coming in 12th place. As Arcadis writes in a statement: “Switzerland performs well in the planet sub-index with Zurich and Geneva taking the first and third spots respectively.”
Zurich was followed in the overall ranking by Singapore, Stockholm, Vienna and London. No American city made it into the top 10, with most placing in the middle of the rankings. The bottom 10 is made up of cities in India, China and Africa.
