Lena Hunter
January 4th, 2022

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Need a work and residence permit? Update yourself on the new standards (photo: pxfuel.com)

Online education platform GetSmarter has pegged Copenhagen as the world’s most sustainable city in a new report on green lifestyles entitled ‘Sustainability: The Meaning, Changing Perceptions, and Expanding Agendas’.

A sustainable city is defined as “one that’s able to retain the supply of natural resources while achieving economic, physical and social progress, while remaining safe against environmental risks”.

READ MORE: Transform your career and become the leader our future needs with an MBA programme from Copenhagen Business School

Many factors are in play here: affordable housing, green transport, energy and waste production, digitisation and more.

City-dwellers drive green demand
The 20 top cities were selected from 65 participating countries – all of which had a high density of so-called “green professionals”, who help to drive demand for sustainable standards.

In Germany, for example, 75 percent of people say an organisation’s commitment to sustainability impacts their decision to purchase their products or services. In the UK, that figure is 90 percent.

Copenhagen lays waste to competitors
Denmark was the highest-rated country on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) in 2020. Since 1995, Copenhagen’s carbon emissions have dropped by 50 percent and it’s on track to become the first major carbon-neutral city by 2025.

Such an exemplary carbon track record, combined with continued efforts in green energy and waste conversion, draws sustainability-conscious professionals and businesses.

In particular, GetSmarter praised the “innovative” Amager Bakke clean-burning incinerator, which converts 534,600 tonnes of municipal waste a year into energy – enough to electrify 30,000 homes and heat 72,000. Less than 2 percent of Copenhagen’s waste goes to a landfill.

See which other cities made the top 20 below, and read up on why here.

1. 1. Copenhagen
   2. Frankfurt
   3. San Francisco
   4. Reykjavík
   5. Singapore
   6. Amsterdam
   7. Canberra
   8. Stockholm
   9. London
   10. Vancouver
   11. Vienna
   12. Berlin
   13. Zurich
   14. Grenoble
   15. Portland
   16. Ljubljana
   17. Oslo
   18. Lisbon
   19. Montevideo
   20. Masdar City