As 2030 approaches as a critical milestone in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role of cities in driving sustainable development through innovation and collaboration becomes ever more pivotal.
The Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024 (SCI) provides an in-depth analysis of urban sustainability across 100 cities worldwide. It evaluates their performance across four core pillars: Planet, People, Profit, and the newly introduced Progress pillar, to assess how cities are advancing towards a sustainable future.
| Rank | Overall | Planet | People | Profit | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amsterdam | Oslo | Paris | Amsterdam | Jakarta |
| 2 | Rotterdam | Copenhagen | Vienna | San Francisco | Kinshasa |
| 3 | Copenhagen | Berlin | Athens | Dallas | Chengdu |
Key Findings
The latest Arcadis Index reveals some shifts in urban sustainability, with a strong showing by Western European cities, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany. Amsterdam ranks as the top sustainable city of 2024, followed closely by Rotterdam and Copenhagen. Below are some notable insights:
- Amsterdam rises nine places to secure the top rank.
- Oslo slips from first to sixth place, while Copenhagen moves up to third.
- German cities feature prominently in the top ten, with Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin all achieving high rankings.
- Warsaw makes a remarkable leap, rising 53 places to enter the top ten.
- Seoul leads as the strongest-performing non-European city, taking the 11th spot.
- Most North American cities, except for San Francisco, New York, and Toronto, fall into the lower half of the index.
- Asian cities are on the rise, with 11 of the 24 ranked cities now in the top half, led by Seoul and Singapore.
Biggest Movers
| City | Change in Rank | New Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | +53 | 9 |
| Beijing | +53 | 20 |
| Shanghai | +47 | 19 |
Pillar Performance
The Arcadis SCI assesses cities across four pillars, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on urban sustainability.
- Planet: European cities lead in environmental sustainability, with Oslo earning the title “EV Capital of the World” and German cities excelling in waste and water management. Los Angeles is the only non-European city in the Planet top 20.
- People: European cities also dominate here due to high scores in health, education, and public transport. However, high living costs remain a challenge for top cities such as Paris and Seoul.
- Profit: Amsterdam takes the lead in economic sustainability, with North American cities performing well in ease of business and GDP, while European cities excel in income standards and infrastructure.
- Progress: The newly added pillar reveals that while cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam show sustained momentum. Meanwhile, cities like New York and Oslo face challenges in maintaining their progress.
Momentum in Sustainability
The Progress pillar categorises cities into four groups, reflecting their long-term commitment to sustainability.
- Cities with Sustained Momentum: Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, Frankfurt, and Tokyo are examples of cities consistently investing in renewable energy, affordable housing, and sustainable transport.
- Cities with Falling Momentum: New York, Hong Kong, Oslo, among others, have seen recent declines in sustainability efforts and will need innovation to regain progress.
- Cities with Early Momentum: Jakarta, Guangzhou, and Kuala Lumpur are making early strides but face challenges in securing long-term results.
- Cities Lacking Momentum: Cities such as Kolkata, Denver, and Buenos Aires show limited advancement due to factors like economic constraints and low institutional support.
Methodology
The Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index evaluates cities on the four pillars of Planet, People, Profit, and Progress. The index uses over 200 data points from sources like the World Bank, Siemens Green City Index, and WHO to provide a balanced view of both current performance and long-term development.
Visit The Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024 for details on rankings and methodology.
Interested in more? Explore our City Observatory for insights on economic performance, brand strength, sustainability, and reputation of cities worldwide.
