Cleanliness is the key to health. We all heard this phrase in childhood and carefully washed our hands with soap. Then we grew up and began to teach our children to live clean and tidy. And what about our cities? Why do we treat them so negligently and clog the environment, without even thinking about the consequences? As it turned out, the cleanest city in the world is not so easy to choose. Unfortunately, the consciousness and level of development of human civilization have not yet reached the border beyond which total concern for preserving the environment begins.
Environmental pollution: the scourge of the XXI century
A couple of centuries ago, people did not think about environmental pollution. Almost the entire population of the world lived in rural areas, and life in cities was the destiny of the few who wanted to be in the center of events and world news. But literally in a hundred years, everything has changed in the most dramatic way - technological progress has led to the fact that more than seventy percent of the world's inhabitants have chosen the place of their residence.
This has led to an increase in the load on these territories. What does a big city associate with us? Of course, with smoking chimneys of factories, dirt in the streets, unpleasant odors and eternal dullness. An unpleasant picture, isn't it? But that is how most of us live. Although in recent years, the tendency to care for the environment has begun to gain momentum and gradually captures many cities in the world. Unfortunately, it is too early to talk about the mass character of this phenomenon. But if you look at the list of the cleanest cities in the world, you will see that you can still live clean. The population of such cities says that it is necessary to begin the changes from oneself.
City classification
First of all, all cities of the world can be divided into four categories:
- Group 1 - the city administration is doing everything to stabilize the environment, and forms a responsible attitude towards the environment among citizens.
- Group 2 - the environmental situation in these cities is extremely difficult, but the administration is approaching to understanding the need for urgent measures to save the city’s ecology.
- Group 3 - these cities do not have a polluting industry, therefore, the population and treatment plants contribute to the deterioration of the environmental situation.
- Group 4 - the most polluted cities that do not have budgetary funds to create environmentally-friendly programs.
Of course, it is difficult to identify which is the cleanest city in the world among such different pollution levels of settlements, but for this there are world standards for the ecological situation of cities.
Clean City: Evaluation Criteria
To choose the cleanest city in the world, you must first make a list of evaluation criteria by which the study will be conducted. What is included in the concept of clean city? On what points is it necessary to assess the cleanliness of cities, because they all have different levels of pollution and industrial potential?
Most often, six characteristics are involved in assessing the state of the environment of a locality that allows you to choose the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. We will list them now:
- the number of green spaces in proportion to the area of the city;
- the presence of a program for the processing of household waste and the percentage of this processing to the total amount of city waste;
- air quality (determined by samples);
- water quality (also determined by samples);
- percentage of budget funds aimed at implementing environmental programs;
- participation of citizens in maintaining the cleanliness of the city.
According to all these characteristics, we are ready to bring to your attention the top of the cleanest cities in the world.
Top 5 tourist centers
Probably every tourist would like to see the cleanest city in the world and spend a vacation in it. Therefore, we decided to make a list of the most environmentally friendly and popular tourist cities:
1. Singapore.
The cleanliness of this city delights many tourists. The most severe fines for smoking in public places or a candy wrapper thrown on asphalt are introduced here. The average fine is approximately $ 500. This system turned out to be very effective, over time, the citizens learned not to litter and actively maintain the cleanliness of their beloved city.
2. Vienna.
The capital of Austria, even at first glance, looks very clean and well-groomed. The population of the city is proud of its historical heritage and tries to preserve a unique city for its descendants.
3. Dresden.
This amazing city is not only a cultural, but also an industrial center. But just legends go about its purity, German pedantry made the city literally perfect. It is impossible to find trash in the streets or to see smoke from factory chimneys.
4. Stockholm.
Not surprisingly, the city of Sweden was on the list of “The Cleanest City in the World”. The government of the country pays special attention to ecology and care for the environment, therefore, Stockholm appears to tourists in a surprisingly clean form. In addition, light pollution is minimized in this city.
5. Abu Dhabi.
The emir of the city spends a large amount of money on maintaining street cleanliness and implementing environmental programs. The most professional specialists in the field of environmental protection work here.
Of course, it’s sad that not a single Russian city was on this list. Russia still cannot boast of a responsible attitude to the environment.
World Health Organization: ranking of the cleanest cities
WHO annually compiles its lists of environmentally friendly capitals of the world. Most often, the top five are European cities. The rating, compiled in 2016, is as follows:
- Sweden - Stockholm.
- Scotland - Edinburgh.
- Canada - Ottawa.
- Australia - Canberra.
- Wellington - New Zealand.
It is worth noting that Stockholm quite often falls into this list, occupying various positions in it.
Top 10 cleanest cities in the world: ranking of alternative public organizations
Not only recognized organizations are involved in assessing the cleanliness and pollution of cities in the world, but also private organizations. Public interest in environmental protection is increasing every year, therefore, alternative ratings appear:
1. Calgary (Canada).
This small town is located in a valley, two rivers pass through the city. Locals claim that water from these rivers can be drunk without harm to health.
2. Adelaide (Australia).
Waste processing is organized at a high level here; more than eighty percent of the garbage is processed by special plants. The city has a large number of parks and squares.
3. Honolulu (Hawaii).
It is called the pearl of the tropics, where thousands of tourists from all over the world come with pleasure.
4. Minneapolis (USA).
Despite the fact that the population of the city has already exceeded three million people, it remains surprisingly clean. This is facilitated by a high awareness of residents and environmental programs.
5. Kobe (Japan).
Advanced Japanese technologies aimed at preserving the environment help to make the country's cities the cleanest.
6. Copenhagen (Denmark).
Not once got into the ranking of the cleanest cities. For two years, Copenhagen even won the Green Capital of Europe nomination.
7. Wellington (New Zealand).
This city managed to get a high score in almost all indicators.
8. Helsinki (Finland).
This city is the heart of Finland, and all its inhabitants make sure that their city is the cleanest and most comfortable.
9. Oslo (Norway).
In recent years, Oslo has made significant progress in implementing environmental programs. He has reduced air emissions and continues to work to keep the streets clean.
10. Freiburg (Germany).
To this city, the prefix "eco" is often used. Freiburg is incredibly green and well-groomed, in addition, the quality of life of its population has been at a high level for several years.
The cleanest countries in the world
Do you know which countries have the most clean cities? Do not be surprised, such a rating also exists. The top 3 cleanest countries in the world look like this:
- Switzerland.
- Sweden.
- Norway.
Environmentalists believe that the Nordic countries will continue to be leaders on this list for a long time, because their governments do not spare funds for environmental programs.
