There is no single model of a sustainable city, rather they are a choice of different solutions

designed to support long-term ecological balance. However there are some fundamentals

that are critical to the classification of every sustainable city:

1) Access to public resources

The wellbeing of residents is critical in sustainable cities, which means guaranteed access to
quality education, safe health centres, easy to access public transportation, garbage collection
services, safety and good air quality, among other modern living necessities. As populations
and challenges change within cities, so to does the need for adaptive solutions to resources.
For example, New York City created a post-Sandy action plan consisting of 250 ambitious
infrastructure resilience initiatives including transportation, telecommunications, parks,
insurance, and buildings.

2) Urban renewal actions

The renovation of public spaces is another fundamental characteristic of sustainable

cities. Public streets, squares, parks, urban spaces as well as modern irrigation and
waste management practices are vital aspects of sustainable living. They help
preserve the cultural heritage and identity of a city through renovation and
restoration.

Ideally, urban renewal in a city is done in a completely integrated way. For example,
in Melbourne, there are rebates designed to incentivise property owners to adopt
sustainable practices resulting in the efficient use of energy and water whilst
reducing their waste to a minimum.

3) Reduction of CO2 emissions

The reduction of CO2 and other poisonous gases harmful to the ozone layer is perhaps the
most significant measure of a cities environmental commitment. Lowering CO2 levels can be
achieved through the long-term shift towards using renewable energies, vertical gardens, a
good supply of alternative means of transport (e.g. bicycles, trains and electric buses) and
household commitment to water and energy saving. One surprising city leading the way is
Shenzhen, China, where in December 2013 a new fleet of more than 6,000 units of eco-friendly
vehicles were introduced, becoming the largest zero emissions service fleet in the world.

4) Favouring ethical consumption

It is now well understood that over-consumption leads to excessive depletion of natural
resources, greater waste and harmful by-products associated in the manufacturing process.
Therefore it is critical that sustainable cities must promote and encourage ethical
consumption, local food production and fair trade that both supports local supply chains and are
environmentally friendly.

5) Reduce, reuse and recycle

Managers of a sustainable city must raise awareness about the importance of

recycling and responsible consumption, and create infrastructure that allows for
minimal waste. And change is possible in a short space of time if cities show
leadership. San Francisco has implemented an 11-year-old zero waste program,
which now sees 80% of all trash diverted from landfills. By 2020, the city hopes to
bring that up to 100%.

Sound inspiring? These examples are not anomalies, with many other cities
adopting a more sustainable model. From Munich to Bogota, from green energy to
intelligent city infrastructure, there are some amazing and innovative examples of
urban sustainability in action around the world, including these 10 that have just
been awarded Climate Leadership awards.[ CITATION Oxf \l 1033 ]
Zero Waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all
products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean.
The process recommended is one similar to the way that resources are reused in nature.

Sustainable cities work towards creating environmentally, economically,

and socially resilient surroundings for their citizens without compromising
the needs of the future generation to thrive in the same environment.
Sustainable cities, also referred to as an eco-cities, work towards creating
environmentally, economically, and socially resilient surroundings for their citizens
without compromising the needs of the future generation to thrive in the same
environment. According to the Sustainable Cities Index, sustainable cities can be
evaluated on three parameters that can be summed up as such:
 Profit
The profit factor measures the value of real estate and the ease of starting and running
businesses.
 People
The people index focuses on the living standard of the people, literacy, education, and health.
 Planet
The planet factor focuses on transportation, water, sanitation, air pollution, and carbon
emission among other factors.

10. Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is the financial hub in Germany and hosts the European Central Bank. Frankfurt has
also been an eco-city for years now. Over 52% of Frankfurt is covered by open green spaces
like water bodies, woodlands, and parks. The local government has a concrete plan for nature
and water conservation, energy efficiency, and climate protection. The city plans to be 100%
dependent on renewable energy source by 2050 and reduce the carbon emission by 50% by
2030.
9. Hong Kong
Boasting more skyscrapers than anywhere else in the world, Hong Kong also happens to be
one of the world's most sustainable cities. Most of Hong Kong's achievements in sustainability
have been on the profit side, as they are, after all, a major world financial center. Hong Kong
has a diverse economy based on banking, tourism, electronics, and textiles. The city also has a
large and efficient public transit system, which means that locals do not need access to a
vehicle.

8. Oslo, Norway
Oslo is the capital and the largest city in Norway. It is also a leading city in sustainability, thanks
to its plan to be a "City of the Future" through focus on cutting down on carbon emissions and
waste. The Oslo Airport is home to a Green Terminal, the first of its kind in the world.

7. Munich, Germany
Munich is the 3rd largest city in Germany and also the most sustainable. Just like the other
German cities, Munich has a concrete strategy for climate protection and nature and water
conservation. Munich is the economic powerhouse of Germany which hosts most of the major
industrial powers who relocated to Munich after WWII. Munich targets to be using 100% clean
electricity by 2025. To protect the climate, Munich targets to reduce carbon emission by 10%
every five years and become carbon neutral in 2050.

6. Zurich, Switzerland
This Swiss city is famous for its flourishing finance business, unique transport system, and high-
quality lifestyle. Zurich can count on a sustainable transport system, and also invests in efficient
and renewable energies. Zurich wants everyone using 2,000 watts of green-energy by 2050.

5. Vienna, Austria
The city of Vienna has implemented a comprehensive climate protection strategy, sustainable
business, sustainable procurement, and recycling of bottles. The capital city of Austria is the first
city in the world to have a fleet of electric-powered buses throughout the central city which
reduce carbon emission while improving citizens' standard of living. These buses recharge at
the bus terminal ensuring that they run efficiently all day long.

4. Singapore
Singapore is a self-governing city-state and an island nation located in Southeastern Asia.
Singapore has an inadequate supply of fresh water, but since importing fresh water from
Malaysia is costly, the state developed novel methods to ensure they use the scarce supply of
water in the country wisely. Singapore took advantage of numerous water management
innovations including saltwater desalination, recycling of reclaimed water, and rainwater
catchment methods. The city has eco-friendly transport regulations which discourage
unnecessary vehicle ownership. To lower carbon emission in the city, the BCA (Building and
Construction Authority) set up many green living standards which every building in the city must
adhere to since 2005. The Zero Energy Building is the greenest in the country and a test subject
for future building designs.
3. Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Edinburgh, the second largest city in Scotland, is also one of the world's most sustainable
places. Edinburgh particularly ranked highly in the "people" portion of the analysis, thanks to its
vibrant urban life. In fact, Edinburgh ranked number one in the world in terms of "people". It's not
surprising considering the city also enjoys a low crime rate and a relatively small income gap.

2. Stockholm, Sweden
The capital of Sweden stretches across 14 islands where the Malaren Lake flows into Baltic
Sea. Over 2.3 million Swedes live in the metropolitan area of the city. Swedes rank first in the
European Union in organic food consumption, usage of renewable energy, and recycling of
bottles and cans. Stockholm is recognized for its numerous innovative urban sustainability goals
and visions which includes becoming 100% fossil-fuel free by the end of 2050. The city is known
for increasing their GDP-growth while lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

1. London, England
London is one of the most popular cities in the world both for tourists and residents, and it is a
great example of a sustainable metropolis. In 2003, London introduced taxes on vehicles
entering the central city during the weekends as a means of discouraging the overcrowding of
cars. The collected revenue funds public transportation and related infrastructures. The local
government has implemented numerous strategies including an air quality plan, noise reduction,
and waste recycling, among other policies. The city has adopted diesel-electric buses which
operate throughout the city to reduce carbon emission. These buses reduce carbon emissions
by 40% which helps the city achieves its goal of 60% greenhouse gasses reduction by 2025.

By worldatlas.com
The world's most livable cities is an informal name given to any list of cities as they rank on an
annual survey of living conditions. Regions with cities commonly ranked in the top 50 include
the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.[1] Three examples of such
surveys are Monocle's "Most Liveable Cities Index", the Economist Intelligence Unit's "Global
Liveability Ranking", and "Mercer Quality of Living Survey". Numbeo has the largest statistics and
survey data based on cities and countries.[2] Livability rankings may be used by employers assigning
hardship allowances as part of job relocation.

The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) publishes an annual Global Liveability Ranking, which ranks
140 cities for their urban quality of life based on assessments of their stability, healthcare, culture
and environment, education and infrastructure.[3]
Melbourne, Australia, had been ranked by the EIU as the world's most livable city for seven years in
a row, from 2011 to 2017.[4] Between 2004 and 2010, Vancouver, Canada, was ranked the EIU's
most livable city, with Melbourne sharing first place in the inaugural 2002 report. Vancouver has
ranked third since 2015, while Vienna, Austria, ranked second until 2018 when it ranked first.
The Syrian capital, Damascus, was ranked the least livable city of the 140 assessed in 2016. [5]
The EIU also publishes a Worldwide Cost of Living Survey that compares the cost of living in a
range of global cities.[6]

American global human resources and related financial services consulting firm Mercer annually

releases its Mercer Quality of Living Survey, comparing 221 cities based on 39 criteria. New York
City is given a baseline score of 100 and other cities are rated in comparison. Important criteria
are safety, education, hygiene, health care, culture, environment, recreation, political-economic
stability, public transport and access to goods and services. The list is intended to help multinational
companies decide where to open offices or plants, and how much to pay employees. For nine
consecutive years (2009–2017), Mercer ranked Austria's capital Vienna first in its annual "Quality of
Living" survey, a title the city still held in 2016.

Since 2006, the lifestyle magazine Monocle has published an annual list of livable cities. The list in
2008 was named "The Most Liveable Cities Index" and presented 25 top locations for quality of life.
Important criteria in this survey are safety/crime, international connectivity, climate/sunshine, quality
of architecture, public transport, tolerance, environmental issues and access to nature, urban design,
business conditions, pro-active policy developments and medical care.
The 2018 Monocle Survey determined the world's most livable city was Munich, followed
by Tokyo, Vienna and Zurich. A total of four German cities were on the list of the 25 most livable
cities, 15 out of the 25 were European, 3 each from Japan and Australia, and one from North
America (Vancouver). No cities from South America, South Asia, or Africa made it into the list.

Vienna
Housing

Having a decent and affordable roof over your head is of course a serious
priority when living in a city. Viennese apartments are enviable – polished
parquet flooring, high, decorative ceilings, bright, spacious rooms, gorgeous
façades and, most importantly, generally affordable rents.

Contracts can be arranged to protect tenants from being charged extortionate

rates, with restrictions depending on the size and condition of the apartment.
Although prices have been steadily increasing in recent years, they still
remain relatively low in comparison to many European cities.

The social housing system also has a solid reputation, with 60% of the city’s
population residing in ‘subsidized apartments,’ with 220,00 in homes provided
by the council. Some of the most remarkable social housing structures were
designed by Harry Gluck, an Austrian architect, who had a vision of creating
homes for the poor with features favored by the wealthy.

Transport and infrastructure

A functioning public transport system is essential to an enjoyable and
productive life in the city. Commuting back and forth is painful enough, without
the added misery of delays and sardine-packed cabins filled with fuming folk.
The U-Bahn in Vienna is easy to navigate, reliable, and there are 24-hour
services on weekends. Annual tickets can be purchased for just one euro per
day. Cyclists are also well-looked after, with clear pathways and many cycle
routes winding around the city, while exploring on foot is also a great option in
the summertime.

Environment and pollution

Pollution is currently a massive global issue, with cities around the world being
increasingly smothered in smog. Vienna has an excellent reputation for being
a clean and green city, with air quality being measured as ‘good’ and drinking
water quality and accessibility as ‘very high.’ Noise and light pollution is also
considered to be ‘low.’

Education
Vienna’s education system is widely considered to be excellent and its
universities rank among the best in the world. The Montessori method, a
progressive form of education that encourages individual thought and
creativity, is common in kindergartens and early years education. The city also
has a few specialist schools that are geared towards children who don’t
perform well under conventional forms of education. The Rudolph Steiner
school, for example, takes a more experimental approach to learning by
nurturing the individual’s strengths.

Health care

Anyone covered by Austrian insurance can reap the benefits of the country’s
impressive health care system. Skill and competency of staff in hospitals and
clinics are considered ‘very high’ and speed in completing examinations and
reports is also ‘high.’

Counseling and therapy are also well-ingrained in the Austrian way of life
– Viennawas once the home of psychoanalysis godfather Sigmund Freud,
who perhaps influenced its popularity.

Economy

Austria is the 14th-richest country in the world, due to its well-developed social
market economy. Maintaining close ties with other EU members and exporting
trade is vital to Austria’s economy, and the World Bank has stated that Austria
has one of the highest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per head, indicating a
high standard of living for citizens.
Known as ‘Europe’s Delishop,’ Austria has over 18,500 organic farms, another
contributing factor to its blossoming economy.

Crime rates
Crime rates in Vienna are among the lowest in Europe. According to the
world’s largest user-contributed data website, Numbeo, worries felt by
residents over theft, muggings, and assaults are ‘low to very low,’ and the
overall level of crime across the city was ranked as ‘low.’ Safety walking home
late at night is ‘high’ and walking in the daytime is ‘very high.’ Like with any
large city, there are still areas that are considered more ‘dodgy’ but overall
Vienna is an incredibly secure city.

Culture

Vienna is drenched in culture and the arts, with a strong heritage for

producing exceptional classical music, fine arts, and theater. Some of the
biggest names the city is associated with are monumental: Beethoven, Klimt
and Mozart, to name but a few.

The city has incredible museums and some amazing music venues –

including the world-famous Vienna State Opera House, where thousands of
visitors flock each year to see world-class musical performances.

Another key feature likely contributing to the city’s well-being is the

coveted coffee culture. Viennese coffee houses are considered institutions,
loved by locals and tourists alike, for providing a space to discuss the day’s
events in a relaxed and quaint environment. Frequented by intellectuals,
artists, and philosophers during the 19th century, they have developed a
reputation for being cultural hubs where great minds gather.
Location
Geographically, Vienna is the capital of the continent and this definitely has its
benefits. Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany are easily accessible by car or
train. In addition, although Austria is a landlocked country, the Mediterranean
sea can be easily reached by a relatively short car journey, while the River
Danube will quench your desire to swim if you don’t fancy the journey.

Proximity to the countryside

As previously mentioned, Vienna is one of the greenest cities in Europe,
hugged by lush hills and rural landscapes, and it has a lot of lovely parks to
explore and hiking routes in and around the city. If craving country air, it is
very easy to take a break away from the city, with fantastic vineyards and
rolling hills a short train-ride away.