Amsterdam and Rotterdam the two most sustainable cities in the world: Arcadis

Amsterdam and Rotterdam are the most sustainable cities in the world, according to consultancy and engineering organization Arcadis. The Dutch cities are in first and second place in the top 100 that the agency compiled for the sixth time. Other, mainly European cities like Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Munich, and Oslo are also doing well in the field of sustainability.

According to Arcadis, the success of the Dutch capital, which previously also finished high in the rankings, is an example of how sustainable developments can continue despite a city’s high ranking. The engineering organization praised Amsterdam for its strategy to reduce emissions by 95 percent by 2050 compared to 1990.

Amsterdam has already done a lot to increase the share of renewable energy sources, Arcadis said. The city also has ambitious goals for 2030 to reduce total energy consumption.

Rotterdam, in turn, deals well with air pollution, CO2 emissions, and waste management. However, there is still room for improvement in the city’s greenery, sustainable transport, and share of renewable energy production, Arcadis said.

“The challenge for leading cities like Amsterdam or Copenhagen is to continue their rapid trajectory,” the engineering firm wrote. The year 2030 is fast approaching and is a “crucial point” in the global drive for sustainable development, Arcadis said. It is, therefore, important that cities show great commitment in the coming years to accelerate the transition to a “more sustainable, inclusive, and fairer world.”

The first non-European city on the list is Seoul, in 11th place. The large Australian cities also all finished in the top half of the list. North American cities, on the other hand, lag behind, except for San Francisco (35th place), New York (48th place), and Toronto (49th place). Among Asian cities, Chinese cities stand out, with Shanghai and Beijing in 19th and 20th positions, respectively.

At the bottom of the list are Karachi (Pakistan), Johannesburg (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), and Cape Town (South Africa).

Arcadis assessed cities on a variety of criteria, from climate goals to the education level of women. This edition also included the extent to which cities are making sustainable progress. To do this, they must take stock of their performance, among other things.