10 Eco-Friendly Cities That Are Going Above And Beyond

Vancouver is in some pretty stiff competition, but it has still managed to snatch the title of having the least carbon emissions out of all major cities in North America. One area that the city has focused on is reducing the number of cars on the roads by literally adding another lane between the streets and the sidewalks - but this one is only for bicycles. Charging ports all over the city have also enticed many to make the switch to electric cars and recent waste management projects means that Vancouver has its eye on becoming the greenest city in the world very soon.

Considered one of the most eco-friendly cities in Europe, Sweden's capital city has long been working to incorporating environmentally friendly practices into its most basic activities. The main thing is, of course, energy, and Stockholm has made incredible strides in the field of converting bio-waste into energy. According to the head of this program, also called the Grow Smarter Project, “One hundred people going to the toilet powers one car, but if we add organic household waste, that goes down to 60 people."

Amsterdam could arguably be called the "Bike Capital of the World" since this city has more bikes than it does actual residents! Not only do the people of Amsterdam love cycling, but the city's many eclectic carports mean that there's almost never a reason to have to make a trip to the gas station. Additionally, the city supports many of its local farmers, meaning that most of the food within the city is fresh, organic, and probably extremely delicious!

Many cities want to become the greenest city in the world and this is the one they have to beat. Copenhagen has long made sustainability a high priority both at a personal and policy level. Much like Amsterdam, the city relies heavily on bicycles (of which there are currently more than cars), and its array of wind farms, electric busses, and green roofs all help Copenhagen to be one of the most eco-friendly places in the world to live. It's next goal: to become completely carbon neutral by the year 2025.