A study run by UK company, Uswitch, investigated a range of sustainability factors to determine the most sustainable city in the world. I’m not sure what makes Uswitch the company to do this (and therefore how credible the results are), but they used a number of factors in their consideration, including:
From: Allhomes
- energy
- transport infrastructure
- affordability
- pollution
- air quality
- carbon dioxide emissions
- the percentage of green space in the area.
And the number 1 city [insert drumroll here] is… Canberra (the capital city of Australia). Yep, my home city.
“[Australia’s] capital relies heavily on solar power and nearby wind farms, while also ensuring an incredible 94 per cent of its residents have internet access to make this one connected city,” the report said. “An incredible 86.6 per cent of Canberra’s transport infrastructure is green.”
Of course, when they say transport infrastructure, they are referring to public transport, not the general homeowner. They are probably ignoring the fact most residents get from A to B via private car, although the local government has incentivised green transport – if you buy an electric car you don’t need to pay registration for the next 3 years.
To be fair, in 2019 we were the first jurisdiction in Australia to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy (with a goal for net-zero carbon emissions by 2045), so there are a lot of pro-environmental sustainable actions being implemented.
What sustainable actions has your city put in place?
May 19, 2021 at 9:15 pm
Ooooo congratulations!! This is amazing!
I know we have some hybrid busses but that’s about it hahaha
May 20, 2021 at 10:41 am
There might be more that you don’t know about? It is a great city to live in.
May 20, 2021 at 12:08 am
Our county voted in a transportation tax to work in the general direction of a sustainable someday. One of the County Commissioners brought suit against it.
We need better people in government before we can even look in a sustainable direction.
May 20, 2021 at 10:46 am
Hmm, taxing people to one day bring in sustainable practice. Cart before horse?
May 20, 2021 at 12:22 am
Interesting read. I just installed a back-up generator because I don’t trust the grid but I don’t think that counts!
May 20, 2021 at 10:47 am
We have a 5KW solar system on the roof, and are starting to investigate battery storage (it wasn’t around when we put in the solar system). Ideally I want to renovate this place and add more solar, but that’s probably a pipe dream, lol.
June 1, 2021 at 12:17 am
Solar takes a ton of space here and the standard is that the energy collected goes first to the grid. Not what I wanted. I’ve seen people (on Life Below Zero) collect it into batteries so that’s what I’d want to do.
June 2, 2021 at 10:33 am
That’s the standard here as well, although we get paid for what goes to the grid (so it is deducted from your bill), but battery systems are becoming quite common. I think Australia leads the way with solar, although not surprising as we get an awful lot of sun.
May 20, 2021 at 10:52 am
Haha I’m sure there is more. Although I don’t think its a great city haha
May 20, 2021 at 12:35 pm
That’s great.
May 22, 2021 at 10:42 pm
That’s great! I think my city is above average for sustainability, and the university here, Colorado State, is one of a handful in the country to repeatedly earn a platinum sustainability rating.
June 2, 2021 at 10:33 am
They need to have an international standing for ratings because I haven’t heard of platinum, but it sounds very high.