Did you know that two Polish cities have been ranked as climate and environmentally friendly?
More and more travellers around the world are placing importance on visiting destinations for which sustainability is important. Global Destination Sustainability Movement assesses cities annually for their environmental friendliness. The assessment covers four main areas: environmental performance, which takes into account public transport policies, carbon emissions and the use of renewable energy sources; social performance, covering aspects such as personal safety, health and wellbeing; governance; and sustainability of tourism providers such as airports, hotels and restaurants in a city.
In 2023, the group expanded its list to include 100 cities worldwide. In the top 20 destinations ranking, Denmark took the top spot, with five cities in the top 20. Sweden also gained three places in this list. For the seventh consecutive year, the most sustainable city was Sweden's Gothenburg, which is located on the archipelago. The city has actively engaged in environmental policy. One ambitious project is the Gothenburg Green City Zone, aiming to completely eliminate emissions in the zone by 2030 through modern transport and infrastructure. Gothenburg Airport has the highest Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate and its shuttle bus runs on rapeseed oil. The city's southern islands are completely vehicle-free and can only be reached by public transport. With a score of 94,64% out of 100%, Gothenburg is recognised as one of the greenest cities in the world.
In Poland, the highest ratings were given to Krakow (43% from 100%) and Gdansk (29% from 100%). Krakow focuses on improving air quality, developing urban mobility, energy efficiency of buildings, the quality and accessibility of green spaces and raising the environmental and climate awareness of the population. In Gdansk, the municipal authorities focus on eliminating plastic consumption, promoting local culture and creating alternative and attractive tourist destinations in revitalised areas.
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