Last week we posted a video of the different country indices < em>eco-friendly and today we share the video of sustainable cities published by ARCADIS. In the indices presented the previous week, only factors related to the environment were taken into account when measuring. In this, on the other hand, in addition to being an index for cities, sustainability is measured, a much broader concept.
The definition made by the UN of Sustainability is as follows: Meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, guaranteeing a balance between economic growth, care for the environment and social well-being (this is known as the Triple Slope of The sustainability). There will be those who consider it more or less adequate, but what stands out is that it not only includes the environmental sphere but also the social and economic spheres.
As curious facts, mention that Europe leads this league with 7 cities in the top 10. The podium is led by Frankfurt followed by London and Copenhagen respectively. The North American countries are improving but they still fail and do not get such high places. Developing cities have focused a lot on economic sustainability, but as we have already mentioned, the concept includes more things that still have to be fulfilled if they want to qualify for leading positions.
Special mention also needs Asian cities where the index is nothing more than a simple reflection of the diversity that exists on this continent. Cities like Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore are in the top 10 while Wuhan, which is nothing more and nothing less than the capital of Hubei province and the most populous city in the central area of the People’s Republic of China, holds the category of one of the least sustainable cities.
The results of the ranking reflect reality but it is just one more index and, like all of them, it presents some surprising results, considering London an example of social development (ignoring the social inequalities that the city presents) or Madrid one of the best cities the world from an environmental point of view. In any case, it sets trends and is a good instrument for establishing comparisons and evolutions.