People who travel around the world often return with many photos and stories to share. They value memories of the beautiful scenery and the friendly people they met. However, sometimes they visit places that are noisy and unclean, which makes the trip more stressful than enjoyable. Cleanlines is associated with a healthy environment. Accumulated waste, polluted waterways and bad maintained public areas significantly harm ecosystems and threaten biodiversity. Plastic waste is especially harmful because it situate in the environment very long time and endangers marine animals. For many years, cities around the world have started green programs to enhance eco-friendly transportation and sustainable lifestyles. These efforts have made cleaner environments and healthier people. Moreover the cleanliness of a city is largely depanded on the level of it’s air pollution. When harmful substances enter the air and environment, air pollution occur and it can cause many problems. Pollution can damage nature and people, causing diseases like lung cancer, heart related diseases and breathing problems. Nowaday, many cities worldwide address with different pollution levels but they are now taking action by using cleaner transportation and greener methods to reduce pollution.
Clean cities not only have pleasant appearances, but also can built its future by protecting the environment and growing every sector. A clean city is the city with tidy streets, safe drinking water and fresh air. To reach the goal, cities must solve problems that cause pollution and poor living conditions. These are improving waste management, using green and energy-efficient transport, stopping littering and enforcing cleanliness rules.The global consultancy Mercer Eco-City compiles a rank of the world’s ten cleanest cities, providing credible data that emphasize the sustainability and environmental performance of urban areas worldwide. The ranking is based on core environmental criteria, including water quality, waste management, wastewater treatment, air purity and traffic efficiency. Top ten cleanest cities in the world are Copenhagen, Singapore, Calgary, Helsinki, Auckland, Adelaide, Tokyo, Zurich, Oslo and Honolulu.
The first one is Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Since 1980, the nation has experienced a 100% increase in GDP, accompanied by only a 6% rise in energy consumption and a notable 40% reduction in water usage. At present, the national energy mix surpasses 30%, with projections indicating the achievement of energy independence by 2050.
Copenhagen is clean because the city has focuses on green projects many years ago.It has good public transport, well waste management and clean water systems. The city also uses renewable energy.It has many bike lanes and many people use bicycles to reduce emission of gas. Moreover, the government of Copenhagen cooperate with private companies to keep clean environment and sustainable lifestyle.Copenhagen uses modern waste-to-energy plants, such as the CopenHill facility, to turn household waste into electricity and heat. This helps reduce landfill use and decrease methane gas from being released.
For many years, the city has spent a lot of money in cleaning its harbor which used to be very polluted. Now these water is clean, safe for swimming and even used as part of the public transport system.The city motivates people to act sustainablilies by practicing programs like CopenPay, which gives rewards to tourists who make eco-friendly choices. People in the city also strongly value cleanliness and are willing to invest in keeping it.
The next cleanest city is Singapore because it has very strict rules. People are not allowed to litter, spit or chew gum freely. If someone breaks these rules, they must pay large amount of fine or made to do cleaning work in public. Singapore has a very modern waste management system. Most household waste is burned and the ash is used to build Semakau Landfill, an artificial island designed to be environmentally friendly.
When Lee Kuan Yew started the Clean and Green policy and aimed for more than just a tidy environment. The plan includes improving public health laws, moving street vendors into hawker centres, building proper sewage systems and boosting disease control. During this time, many people also changed from kampongs—traditional Malay villages into housing estates with better facilities.
In Singapore there are many vertical gardens and energy-saving buildings to be green. Tree-lined roads, rooftop gardens and many parks help nature harmonize with daily life. That’s why people call it , a “City in a Garden.” Singapore made wastewater into high-grade drinking water by using advanced purification technology. This recycled water is called NEWatesupports sustainable water management and reduces environmental pollution.
Calgary is known as one of the cleanest cities in the world. Its strict environmental rules and clean-energy sectors help in keeping the air and water these are enough for its 1.4 million residents. Calgary recycles about 75% of its waste with its modern waste management system. The city also has a very advanced wastewater treatment system that cleans 100 million litres of water every day. Calgary encourages people to travel in eco-friendly ways such as using public transport and biking. Even though it is an industrial city, these choices help to reduce carbon emissions. These green efforts have helped Calgary remain as the cleanest city in North America.
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a place where nature and sustainability fit naturally into daily life. Helsinki practice the way in using resources wisely by encouraging recycling, reusing items, and responsible consumption. It turns trash into energy that powers homes and businesses, cutting down on landfill use. Helsinki has announced an ambitious climate target and pledging to reduce emissions from transportation by 69% by 2035 as part of its plan to lower overall carbon output. One thing that makes Helsinki environmentally successful is its very clean air.
Unlike many big cities, Helsinki adopt policies that support public transport and help cut down pollution. The city encourages people to get involved especially during the yearly “Keep Helsinki Clean” event. In that event,residents involve in pick up litter with tools given by the city. Their participation shows pride in Helsinki and it is also a cooperated effort to keep it clean.
Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand and the South Pacific, is widely recognized as one of the world’s cleanest cities. Its global reputation for cleanliness comes from dedicated environmental policies and effective traffic-reduction strategies. Auckland applies clean technologies in areas like renewable energy, waste management, and eco-friendly transport. These efforts help reduce environmental damage by saving energy and using resources reasonably .The citizens realize that real sustainability means balancing the economy, society and the environment.
Auckland has studied the importance of natural systems in mitigating the effects of climate change. This approach, known as ecosystem-based adaptation, emphasizes the management and preservation of ecosystems to provide protective services for human communities. For instance, strategies are being implemented to safeguard ecosystems that regulate water flows, ensuring a sustainable water supply.
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia is often praised by visitors for the noticeable cleanliness of its streets and public spaces. The Public Realm team of the City of Adelaide suoervise street cleaning, the maintenance of public restrooms and the maintainence of parks and squares. The city actively involves the community in maintaining cleanliness through events such as the annual Clean Up Australia Day. Striving to become a “Water Sensitive City,” this city apply the way in managing water sustainably by protecting its major aquatic ecosystems. In Adelaide, its residents and businesses work together to make Adelaide one of the first carbon-neutral cities in the world.
Tokyo is one of the cleanest cities that cares widely about sustainability and quality of life. People in Japan care a lot about nature and the people around them. Japan’s cleanliness is clearly occured during sporting events. Both athletes and spectators actively contribute to maintaining a tidy environment. Players leave their locker rooms immaculate and spectators often carry their trash home and even join large-scale stadium clean-up activities. In Japan, many children are taught the value of regular cleaning from an early age at home and within the school environment.
Japan wants to be carbon neutral by 2050 and plans to use more clean energy by 2030. Even it faces challenges, it is a leader in green technology. People can only smoke in special places so the air is clean and the streets are clean. The trains, stations, and taxis are very clean that showing how much the city cares about cleanliness.
Zurich, a Swiss city, is renowned for its dedication to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Sanitation workers diligently maintain the city’s roads, walkways and public transport stops to ensure that they remain spotless and free of litter. This effort represents an annual investment of over CHF 200 million. Residents, proud of the city’s clean image, contribute by recycling, disposing of waste correctly and keeping their surroundings tidy. In Zurich, downtown parking is limitted, so most people take electric trams, buses or the light rail. Cars account for only 28% of inbound traffic that makie Zurich as a model of cleanliness, efficiency and eco-friendly urban living.
In the 1960s, Switzerland’s water was very dirty. Rivers and lakes were full of algae, foam, scum and even dead fish floating on the surface. Today, Switzerland achieves a water purity rate of 98% and is renowned for its exceptionally clean swimming waters that are often referred to as the nation’s “blue gold.”
Oslo, the capital of Norway, is a great example of a city that cares about the environment and uses green energy. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe,and construction are a big role in shaping the city. Because of its climate policy, many building projects now produce zero emissions by using electric machines and cutting down on fossil fuels. Oslo has a strong climate plan called the “Climate Budget.” It includes 42 actions in three main areas such as energy and buildings, transport and resource use. The goal is to become completely carbon-neutral by 2050.
The city enforces measures such as the PANT system which imposes a fee on individuals who fail to recycle their bottles. It also maintains a dedicated municipal team responsible for keeping public spaces clean .People living in Oslo and visitors can easily use clean transport options like electric ferries and bike-sharing services. The Climate Budget is part of Oslo’s normal budget plan. It sets a limit on how much climate-warming gas the city can release each year and highlights the actions that can cut emissions the most. Because of this system, Oslo has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 28% and aims to reach a 65% cut by 2030.
Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, is a clean city that is concerned about the environment and biodiversity. Honolulu is the top-ranked city in the United State for public transport. Many people choose buses instead of driving cars. Because of this, the city cuts a lot of CO₂ emissions by adding special bus lanes to support the large number of buses on the road. People who litter now face tougher consequences. Anyone caught must pay a fine and spend hours picking up trash. This rule also applies to dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets, with a $500 fine for failing to do so.
Hawaii, including Honolulu, has introduced several programs to reduce plastic waste on the islands. These include banning plastic shopping bags and encouraging tourists to use reusable cutlery and water bottles. Because of regular cleanup efforts, the amount of microplastic on the beaches is slowly decreasing. There is still more progress to make but the islands are moving in the right direction.
In conclusion, the top ten cleanest cities in the world show that cleanliness is not a coincidence, it is the consequences of strong policies, responsible citizens and long-term environmental planning. Each clean city highlights how commitment to sustainability can make healthier, safer and more enjoyable communities. Their success can get with the right efforts. Therefore, any city in the world can be clean by behaving like these top ten cleanest cities.
By: Daw Nan May Pwint Phu
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