Urban Sustainable Tourism: European Cities at Forefront

As travellers seek to minimise their carbon footprint due to tourism, many cities have taken initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in transport, energy and other sectors, which cater to tourists as much as the residents. India Outbound lists cities that are at the forefront of sustainability, with numerous European cities in the lead.

- Triya Ghosh

Sustainable cities may sound an oxymoron as most cities in the world are climate change hotspots, on amounting for the largest share of carbon emissions and pollution. Yet, with rising awareness amongst citizens about sustainability, at least in the developed world, some cities have begun taking concrete steps to cut their emissions, mainly from transport and energy.

The move towards sustainability helps the cities not just become more liveable and pleasant, but they also position them strategically on the global tourism map especially as travellers begin to hunt for sustainable travel experiences. Many European cities have already taken steps that make them attractive to travellers. According to the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2022, Europe has the most sustainable cities in the world while cities in the United States lag behind despite having strong economies.

The global design and consultancy firm's study demonstrates that in a world confronted with a series of challenges like climate change, urbanization and dwindling resources, cities must pursue sustainability in order to be truly prosperous. Based on these parameters, its sustainable cities index measures 100 global cities ranked based on 51 metrics, across 26 indicator themes, arrayed under the three pillars of sustainability: planet, people and profit. Here are some of the top performers in the index:

Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish capital facilitates pollution-free public transportation and infrastructure such as extensive tracks for bicycling and walking. With extensive rainwater harvesting and green architecture elemental parts of its planning, Copenhagen has been recognised as a global leader in climate action by the non-profit organisation CDP Cities.