The 10 Greenest Cities in the World

One of the main reasons why Oslo consistently finds itself on green-city rankings might be due to their “compact city” design; where an efficient transportation system, availability of bicycles for rent and ease of mobility and access for those on foot creates an environment that not only facilitates the modern-day pedestrian, but encourages alternative measures to getting around.

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Boasting the highest levels of biodiversity in flora and fauna in the world, Cape Town is also home to 19 variations of vegetation that are completely unique to the city and nonexistent outside of their specific regions of growth therein. While their ecosystems are increasingly more threatened by urban expansion, the city hopes to combat growing risks for endangerment and extinction with over 30 nature reserves in the city.

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A mainstay on lists like these, San Francisco has long been hailed as one of North America’s greenest cities. The city is home to environmental groups like the Sierra Club, which is credited with being America’s top organizations for grassroots environmental causes.

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In 2003, Kew Gardens in London was added to the list of World Heritage Sites. The gardens, one of eight Royal Parks in central London, is home to the largest assortment of living plants. Beyond the better-known parks, there are countless other open “green spaces” within London that are protected and loved by locals and tourists for their lush vegetation and summer events. Aside from the greenery, London’s Climate Change Action Plan, set into motion in 2007, will move a quarter of its power to more efficient, locally generated sources. The plan also offers incentives to those residents who work to make their homes more environmentally friendly.

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Labelled as one of the cleanest and safest cities of the world, Reykjavic is also known for being one of the greenest. In a 2007 article, Grist notes Reykjavic’s use of hydrogen buses and geothermal power sources as key points for their accolades in sustainability, further adding that the city aims to be entirely free of fossil fuels by the year 2050.

In a 2014 article, The Ecologist referred to Curitiba as “The Greenest city on Earth.” In 2010, the city was awarded the Global Sustainable City Award, and Reader’s Digest has since labeled it as the best big city in Brazil in which to live. In terms of green space, Curitiba has it in spades, with their green area equal to the span and size of those in other major Brazilian cities.

More pics: 20 of the most beautiful places in the world.

Vancouver is frequently named in the top five lists (ranked worldwide) for “livability and quality of life.” The city has been an active player in the push for global awareness for sustainability, having themselves erected the Greenest City Action Plan initiative in 2011, which aims to put Vancouver on the map as the greenest city worldwide by 2020. It seems that we can look to our fellow Canadians for some cues on how to get our own city in the international rankings for sustainability in the future!

Another award-winning city, Stockholm took the title as the first “green capital” in Europe when given the 2010 European Green Capital Award. A credit to this might be their innovative administration system, which does the organizational legwork to ensure all aspects of sustainable living are implemented in future plans and considerations for the “clean city.” Something interesting to note is that Stockholm also plays host to visitors looking to study and learn from their green-living initiatives – which is an excellent way to spread the world and integrate other communities in their environmental efforts.

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Having previously won the European Environmental Management award for their clean waterways and long-term environmental planning, it’s not hard to see why this city is a staple on countless “green city” rankings worldwide. Encouraging alternative transportation with their accessible rental bikes and a fairly new transit system in place, this city continues to make waves and set the standard for decisive action in the face of growing environmental concerns. However, it's also one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Canals and narrow streets make this a difficult city to navigate by car, but on the upside, it’s successfully encouraged residents and tourists alike to get around by bicycle – which is actually the most popular mode of transport in Amsterdam! If you must drive, the city is equipped with hundreds of charging stations for electric-powered cars. Factor in the city-wide emphasis on recycling, reducing emissions and generating power from solar panels and wind mills, and it’s no wonder this holds court as one of the greenest cities on the map! Plus: see where Amsterdam landed on the top 10 best cities for millennials.