Cleanest City in the World: What Sets It Apart?
Due to the increase in urban growth, there is a need to have sustainable and clean cities. The cleanest city in the world is not only defined by air quality but also by waste management, water quality, green spaces, and overall sustainability. The ranking of Mercer Eco-City shows cities that are the best in these spheres, including switching to renewable energy, waste reduction, and environmental practices. Learn what makes the cleanest city in the world unique and what new standards it establishes in the area of urban dwellings and sustainability.
The Cleanest city in the world: Copenhagen, Denmark
Having been termed the cleanest city in the world, Copenhagen is unique because of its commitment towards sustainability. The Danish capital has a population of about 1.99 million people; it has been the first to take many environmental actions that make it a leader in global environmentally friendly operations.
One of the most outstanding aspects of Copenhagen is its broad bicycle culture, whereby 62 per cent of the population commutes using bicycles. The city has 700,000 bicycles that greatly cut down on traffic emissions. Copenhagen is a leader in clean energy, and one of the projects is the Holmen initiative, which produces 300,000 MWh of wind energy and converts waste to energy. Also, the city has an energy mix that is more than 30 per cent, and the city is expected to be energy independent by 2050.
Technology is also the driver of urban management in Copenhagen. The city maximizes the use of energy in buildings and public services through the application of AI and big data. It is a green environment as 25 per cent of its area is filled with public gardens, and it emphasizes vertical gardens. The city has committed itself to a sustainable future, as it is going to counterbalance all its emissions by 2025.
It is important to note that the success of Copenhagen is not limited to the sphere of energy and infrastructure. The GDP of the country has increased by 100 per cent since 1980, and energy consumption has increased by only 6 per cent, while water consumption has decreased by 40 per cent.
Other Notable Cleanest Cities of the World
A number of other cities in the world are also taking the lead in being green and environmentally aware, following the great example of Copenhagen. These are some of the cleanest cities around the world.
- 1. Singapore
- 2. Calgary, Canada
- 3. Adelaide, Australia
- 4. Tokyo, Japan
- 5. Wellington New Zealand
- 6. Zurich, Switzerland
- 7. Dubai, the United Arab Emirates
1. Singapore
Singapore is renowned for its sustainability and clean streets. The clean and green program, which was initiated in the 1960s, created the basis of cleanliness in the city. Singapore, with a population of more than 6 million, has green space that is provided by vertical gardens and supertrees. It has a NEWater system that reclaims wastewater to produce drinking water. There are strict littering laws, where there are hefty fines for disposing of gum, and this is what keeps the city clean.
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2. Calgary, Canada
Calgary has a reputation for being clean, energy-resolute, and sustainable. Having a population of 1.4 million, it diminishes air and water pollution by proper waste management, as 75 per cent of the waste is recycled. The wastewater system of the city deals with 100 million litres on a daily basis. It is an industrial centre, but at the same time, it has a high level of living as it focuses on green projects and the use of clean energy, which makes it the cleanest city in North America.
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3. Adelaide, Australia
The capital of South Australia, Adelaide, takes care of sustainability and the environment. The Sustainability Program of the city seeks to cut down carbon emissions, safeguard biodiversity, and control resources effectively with a population of 1.37 million inhabitants. Urban greening projects make cities more livable, and the projects aimed at the implementation of the circular economy and waste reduction also emphasize that Adelaide is on its way to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
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4. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, with a population of 37.1 million, is a clean and environmentally friendly city. The city has a well-developed system of waste management, even though the population density in the city is high. The solution to air pollution is the existence of efficient public transportation, and Tokyo also uses renewable energy; it uses small solar plants and wind farms. Tokyo is also at the forefront when it comes to clean technology and environmental protection, with a high aspiration of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
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5. Wellington New Zealand
New Zealand is the capital of Wellington, which has clean air and environmental activities. The city prohibits the use of plastic bags and encourages the use of public transport and sustainable behaviour. Its Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) program conserves ecosystems as a way of reducing climate change. The city is an example of a sustainable and environmentally friendly life since it has decreased pollution and preserved natural resources.
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6. Zurich, Switzerland
The city of Zurich (population more than 1.4 million) is famous for its environmental awareness. There is an effective system of public transport in the city that allows for minimizing emissions, and more than 90 per cent of waste is recycled. Zurich has focused on renewable energy, which guarantees a sustainable future as it will be carbon-neutral. Waste management in the city, green energy and cycling are some of the initiatives that have made the city one of the cleanest cities in the world.
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7. Dubai, the United Arab Emirates
The city of Dubai is moving towards sustainability, which is also considered one of the luxurious cities with great architecture. The city has air quality monitoring systems and has also introduced the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world. The waste-to-energy plant in Dubai helps it to pursue a zero-waste policy, and the stringent car and industrial emissions limits minimize the pollution.
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Conclusion
To sum up, the cleanest cities in the world are establishing the standards of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Whether it is Copenhagen leading the way in carbon neutrality, Singapore in waste management and Dubai in renewable energy projects, these cities are bringing clean urban living. Their focus on minimizing pollution, increasing green spaces, and adopting new technologies demonstrates that sustainable cities are achievable. These cities are the examples that can be followed by other cities in the world to live in a cleaner and healthier future with a clear focus on environmental sustainability.
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