Last Updated on January 9, 2021
4. Vancouver, Canada
What if you also found a set of impressive natural beauty in addition to being a sustainable city? This is the case in Vancouver, where the mountains meet the ocean in unique reliefs and landscapes. It is also here that the lowest greenhouse gas emissions among all cities in North America are celebrated. Many parks and green areas, such as the famous Stanley Park with over 1,000 acres, also contribute to this milestone. In 7 years, the city has reduced the amount of waste sent to landfills by 27%, and by 2040 the goal is to zero.
5. Singapore
Is everything that is high tech necessarily polluting? The answer is no: Singapore is proof that technology, sustainable agriculture, and respect for the environment can live together. The extensive area of its parks that touches train lines is one of the symbols of this junction. Singapore is one of the most ambitious sustainable cities, as it has a program that requires compensation for any loss of vegetation in the soil in areas above skyscrapers. This city is also an example of how to achieve development sustainably from unfavorable conditions and with few resources.
6. Reykjavik, Iceland
Certainly, the best-known sustainable metric in Iceland’s capital is the proportion of energy from renewable sources: 100% comes from hydroelectric and geothermal plants. Another city’s commitment against the human impact on the environment is to neutralize carbon transfer until 2040. In addition to energy efficiency, the Reykjavik Municipal Plan prioritizes the preservation and construction of green areas and the clean-up and integration of the public transport system. Of every 10 city residents, 9 live within a five-minute walk of a park.
7. Cape Town, South Africa
In summary, the biggest advantages of the South African capital as one of the sustainable cities are the preservation of nature reserves, their fauna and flora, and the integration and efficiency of the public transport system. Energy is also a priority, so Cape Town has implemented a program to increase the percentage of renewable sources in the energy produced by the country, with a focus on solar. Besides, there is a wide and diverse network of ecological hotels for tourists who wish to assert their environmental awareness.
