We are lucky to live in Singapore, recognized as the greenest city in Asia. Singapore has put in a lot of effort to make at least 80% of all its buildings green by the year 2030. For most parts of Singapore, we are never more than 10 minutes away from a park filled with lush greenery for us to take a break from the concrete jungle and recede into an urban oasis of green space. But there’s so much more we can do for environmental sustainability. Some of us take plastic bags liberally at shops and supermarkets, and many residents abuse the blue recycling bins at the void decks by dumping non-recyclables there. And our large number of cars on the roads. There’s still a lot to be done.
The following eco-friendly cities set themselves apart with their various green initiatives that feel worlds apart from Singapore. Good, green habits are instilled from an early age, and things like recycling and reusing have become integral in people’s daily lives. For instance, you will notice while spending time in these cities that bringing your own reusable bags when shopping is simply the way of life. In Singapore, cashiers start bagging items in plastic bags on auto-pilot mode, unless you refuse them. There’s so much we can learn from these eco-conscious cities to cultivate an eco-friendly mindset amongst Singaporeans.
#sustainableliving #zerowastegoals #saveourearth
Helsinki, Finland — eco-friendly accommodation
It is in Helsinki that the first apartment using solar electricity became a reality. In a city surrounded by the sea, Helsinki greatly appreciates the environment and places the Earth’s sustainability as a top priority. Many tourists travel far and wide to the capital of Finland to enjoy their great public saunas, appreciate their Design District (a hotspot for design and architecture), and savour locally sourced, seasonal food. Singaporean travellers may find European food too stodgy with mainly potatoes and meat, which are commonplace in many parts of Europe. But Helsinki’s emphasis on eating right, along with their sauna culture, will make you feel like your health and wellness are taken care of. Another major draw to Helsinki is their summers, as you can experience the sun for 24 hours!
With tourism being one of the biggest contributors to Helsinki’s economy, eco-friendly accommodation has been on a steady increase. Around 75% of hotel rooms in the city have been certified as environmentally friendly, and those that aren’t certified yet have some sort of environmental plan in place covering all aspects of the business — from food and water to waste management and energy consumption.
If you stay at one of these eco-friendly hotels, you will notice that they use solar panels in the roofs to reduce the amount of heat and power they consume. In addition, the hotel is built with environmentally friendly materials such as logs, stones, bamboo and straw, to limit their carbon footprint. These homes focus on environmental sustainability and are built and designed to be as self-sufficient as possible.
When you visit Helsinki, you will realize that the Finns grew up in an eco-conscious society, and are very much aware of needing sustainable development to save the Earth. They’ve made such advanced progress in their infrastructure, way of life, and mindsets, making them one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world.
Read more: How you can do your part for sustainable tourism
Amsterdam, Netherlands — the city of bicycles and electric vehicles
Amsterdam is on many Singaporeans’ bucket list, as it is a cultural and museum-lovers’ paradise. Museumplein, which is the cultural pulse of Amsterdam, houses world-renowned museums like Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. Come spring, visitors and locals alike flock to Bollenstree where they can marvel and experience miles and miles of beautiful tulip blooms.
When roaming around in Amsterdam, you will see more bikes than cars being the main mode of transportation for the Dutch. Amsterdam is also introducing electric vehicles, and have set up 300 charging points around the city to encourage the use of electric cars.
I’ve always been curious why bicycles can reign in a busy city like Amsterdam. After a visit to this inspiring city, I think it works primarily because the Dutch have a bike-first mentality. You will notice a few unique setups and layouts while walking around Amsterdam. Firstly, I noticed that the roads have separate cycle tracks, as opposed to bike lanes in other countries. This offers a safer and more stress-free cycling experience as you don’t have to worry about riding alongside cars. Such separated cycle tracks are what’s needed in Singapore for cyclists! Secondly, there are some streets with limited or no access for vehicles. This means you can get to more places on your bike than with a car. Next, you can bring your bike with you on ferry rides to get out of the city. Also, have you ever seen a bike parking garage in Amsterdam? It is quite a sight to behold. Other than the two-tier bike racks that are frequently seen everywhere in the city, there are also multi-storey bike parks, usually near train stations. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a congregation of bikes anywhere else. Lastly, I’ve heard of a special Dutch law that protects cyclists — in the event of an accident involving a car and a cyclist, the car driver is liable by default. No wonder cars are extra careful around cyclists!
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend cycling in Amsterdam city as a tourist. I’ve witnessed many cyclists in Amsterdam going at breakneck speeds on the road, making turns at a pace that makes me nervous while crossing the road, let alone on a bike. I’ll probably stick to going around Amsterdam on foot.
Vancouver, Canada — one in 15 work in green businesses
Ah, Vancouver. One of the most liveable and greenest cities in the world. And beautiful while at it. Surrounded by the ocean (the Pacific coastline, to be exact), forests, and mountains, it’s so easy to go from city to nature within an hour. I especially love how multicultural Vancouver is, as it shows in the friendliness of Vancouverites, manifests in their delectable selection of international cuisine, and apparent in her vibrant communities and festivals.
There is a strong connection to nature in Vancouver, and the community has been well aware that it needed to do so much more for environmental sustainability. So in 2011, a Greenest City Action Plan was established to reshape residents’ views and behaviour towards the environment. The strategy includes plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut water and energy consumption, reduce landfill waste, and double the number of green jobs. Also, it requires all new buildings to be carbon neutral. There is now a very vibrant cleantech industry in Vancouver, with more than 270 cleantech companies that have created over 2,500 jobs since 2011. This means that one in 15 people in Vancouver works in an occupation that focuses on preserving the environment, reducing energy, and minimizing waste and pollution.
Read more: 10 Eco-friendly travel products you should own by now
San Francisco, California — ban on plastic bags and plastic water bottles
San Francisco has a lot of scenic beauty to enjoy, be it walking through the city to admire the cityscape, watching waves crashing on the rocks on Ocean Beach, and taking in the iconic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is also home to trendy bars, tech jobs, and plenty of festivals to keep this coastal city buzzing with activities all year round. At pretty much any given day, you will be able to enjoy internationally recognized symphony, opera, ballet, and theatre. Many yogis also pay homage to well-established meditation and yoga centres right in the city. San Francisco is also a haven for foodies, where more than 4,500 restaurants showcase global cuisines.
And yet San Francisco maintains its reputation as one of the world’s most eco-friendly cities, mostly due to their renowned progress in recycling. The city has a 77% recycling rate, as the authorities mandate the separation of landfill waste, recycling and compost. San Francisco plans to divert 90-100% of its waste away from landfills by this year. A key factor in this is a ban on plastic bags and plastic water bottles. Banning plastic water bottles will not only reduce waste entering landfills, but it also reduces the amount of oil being used to make these water bottles. Additionally, restaurants and food vendors can no longer use plastic containers and should use compostable or recyclable food containers instead.
You need to bring your own reusable water bottle when you visit San Francisco, as you will not be able to find single-use plastic mineral water bottles easily. Same goes for single-use plastic takeout cutlery and groceries. It’s time to start the habit of bringing your own reusable cutlery, grocery bag, and water bottle everywhere you go to live like a true environmentally conscious local.
Read more: Here’s how travellers can reduce plastic in 2020 and beyond
Copenhagen, Denmark — carbon-neutral by 2025
The city of Copenhagen is filled with rows of houses with pastel hues, cobbled streets, and cosy cafes. It is famous for living the Hygge (pronounced as “Hoo-ga”) life, which means cosy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. Picture candles, blankets, a hot cup of tea, with a good book in hand. The Hygge lifestyle is evident in Copenhagen’s big cafe culture. You’ll feel right at home no matter which cafe you walk into!
Acclaimed to be Europe’s most sustainable city, more than 50% of Copenhagen residents regularly use a bicycle to commute, resulting in extremely low carbon emissions for a city its size. Many hotels provide travellers with bicycles as well. Copenhagen is set to become the first CO2-neutral city by 2025, which means that they will have no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Also, they have a plan of installing 100 wind turbines within city limits, further pushing its dedication in using alternative energy sources.
The enthusiasm comes from within for Copenhagen residents. They see nature as something to protect and take care of and see it as their duty to do so. Recycling and composting are part and parcel of their daily lives, as well as conserving electricity and heat. A new trend in the city is organic eating — 24% of the total food sales in the city is organic produce. Copenhagen is constantly introducing new ways to develop a sustainable way of life, leading the way for the rest of us!
