Ever wondered what the “greenest” places to live in the world are? @EarthConsciousLife #GreenCities
Maybe you could move there. Or, maybe you live in one of these places already!
According to data and reports from the last several years, these are some of the most sustainable, “greenest,” and eco-friendly places to live on the planet.
*This is not a complete list, and in no particular order. Also, these cities are far from perfect. I am not endorsing them in their entirety. I’ve never lived in any of the locations below, so I know little of the day to day politics and quality of life. This is meant to shine a light on some of the things that they are getting right.
- Cape Town, Africa
This city, clear at the bottom of the African continent, has been leading the charge with green energy and sustainability for well over a decade now.
It sources over 10-20% of its energy from renewable sources, including a massive wind farm! The city culture is all about biking for transportation, outdoor sports, solar energy, and growing your own vegetables.
- Curitiba, Brazil
Few people know about this incredibly ecology-forward city located near São Paulo.
Its green energy programs are staggering: locals can turn in recyclable items for food and cash to keep the city clean. Public transportation is enviable even by U.S. standards, and the whole city is surrounded by flood-preventing green belts maintained and grazed by sheep!
- San Francisco, California, United States
San Fran is one of the greenest cities to live in the U.S., if not the greenest city in the country.
It’s the first city in America to completely ban water bottles and other single-use plastics. It keeps about 80% of its waste out of landfills with ambitions to make this number 100% in the next few years.
- Singapore
You could call this Asian city the “Rain Harvesting Capital of the World” and you wouldn’t be wrong. The city catches and purifies TONS of rainwater for the city!
It also has energy goals to be 80% green by 2030. It’s filled with extremely lush and verdant gardens, and tons of low-to-zero-energy green buildings that were mandated in 2008.
- Vancouver, Canada
Of all cities in North America, none have fewer carbon emissions than Vancouver, a fact that the city (and Canada) takes as a mark of pride.
Huge incentives are also made for bicycling and electric cars for transportation, instead of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. The city even uses compost collection for fuel to heat homes in the winter!
- Copenhagen, Denmark
This European city might be the greenest city in the continent, if not possibly the world. Most of the world seems to think so, as it is regularly voted as one of the most eco-friendly places to live over the years!
This is owed to a multitude of different initiatives in Copenhagen, though the most impressive of them all may be their “Copenhill” plant: an energy plant that transforms waste into electricity for the city’s residents (plus, the plant itself is a park and playground that can be enjoyed by the public!).
If you’ve always craved a greener, more eco-friendly way of living, or becoming part of a larger community that works actively to heal the planet…
…well, now you’ve got some ideas!
It’s good to look at examples of what some cities are doing right, for possible inspiring to mimic these policies and strategies in your home city or town.
To a healing future,
Rob Herring
Director, The Need To GROW / Earth Conscious Life
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