The best European cities for green living

If you’re worried about climate change, you’re not alone. Global warming is one of the biggest challenges we currently face, and it’s got a lot of us thinking about how we can play our part to save the planet. Some are making more sustainable choices in their personal lives, while others are aiming to make an impact through their work.

But this got us thinking – where are the best places for sustainable living and green careers?

To find out, we ranked over 40 European cities according to factors like pollution levels, how much waste they generate, the quality of parks and green spaces, and the cost of public transport. We also took a look at the number of jobs in sustainability currently available in each location, as well as how many require green skills.

Seeking the perfect spot to live a more sustainable lifestyle? These are the cities for you.

There are many things that may influence where you choose to live, from attending University in a new city to changing jobs and making a fresh start. And now, as many of us become more and more eco-conscious, sustainability is having an influence too.

So, if you’re looking to start over somewhere new – and live a more eco-friendly life – take a dive into our list of the best cities in Europe for sustainable living.

1. Stockholm, Sweden

The Swedish capital, Stockholm, is a modern hub for fashion, music, tech, and film, and has now been crowned the best European city for a green life. With 4,045 jobs in sustainability currently advertised, a sustainable development score of 85 and a low pollution score of 18.4 out of 100 points, it’s clear why this city claims first place.

Although the city has the second-highest air quality of all places analysed (84.3 out of 100), the average cost for public transport is among the highest at €88 per month

2. Bruges, Belgium

Known for its canals, cobbled streets and mediaeval buildings, Bruges closely follows Stockholm in second place. The Belgian city has the most affordable public transport of all cities analysed at €20 per month and the highest quality of parks and green spaces (90 points out of 100).

With over 8,000 jobs in sustainability listed and the average salary in the city estimated at €2,000 per month, Bruges is an excellent city for a sustainable lifestyle.

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

As the hometown of architect Jan Gehl, one of the globe’s leading authorities on sustainable urban planning, Copenhagen often falls into the world’s ‘best cities’ lists. The Danish capital secures third place with an average of 233,805 tons of waste generated per year, which is the fourth-lowest of all cities analysed.

Copenhagen is known to be one of the most expensive cities in Europe, so it won’t come as a surprise that the monthly cost of public transport is among the highest at €73 per month. The city also offers fantastic air quality and its parks and green spaces are of the highest quality, both scoring in the low 80s out of 100.

4. Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich secures fourth place in the ranking, with the highest monthly salary in Europe of approximately €6,410 and the least waste generated each year (59,000 tons).

In addition, pollution levels are among the lowest out of all cities (scoring 19 out of 100 points) and the overall air quality is rated 83 points. Although there are currently only 809 jobs in sustainability available, this isn’t particularly surprising when considering the size of the city.

5. Munich, Germany

Bavaria’s capital, Munich, is home to centuries-old buildings, countless museums, and of course, the famous Oktoberfest. But in addition to the beer halls, Munich takes fifth place for Europe’s best cities for green living.

This city has over 3,400 jobs in sustainability currently listed, a high quality of parks and green spaces (scoring 85.3 out of 100), and an affordable public transport system costing on average €60 per month.

6. Vienna, Austria

Vienna, located in the heart of Europe, ranks in sixth place. The city has the second-lowest pollution levels of all cities (16.3), some of the best air quality (83.6) and green spaces are rated highly (85.4). There are plenty of beautiful parks to choose from, such as the Volksgarten or Burggarten.

The capital also has a great public transport system, which makes travelling around the city a breeze and costs just €45 per month. Alternatively, you can make use of the great public bike-sharing facilities, which are available year-round.

Although the number of jobs in sustainability currently available is lower compared to other cities in the top ten (533), Vienna is a great location to live a sustainable life.

The Cities Offering the Most Opportunities for a Sustainable Career

Top 15 European Cities for a Green Career

Although there are steps we can take as individuals to help fight climate change, some people choose to make even more of a difference through the work they do.

Sustainability is an integral part of our future, and you may be interested in exploring a career in this field. But with so many thriving cities to explore, it can be hard to know where to look for opportunities. No need to worry, though – we’ve done the hard work for you, looking at the number of green jobs currently available in different European cities to reveal which have the most on offer.

London claims the top spot as the best city to explore a career in sustainability, with over 10,400 jobs. In addition, there are just under 3,000 positions available that require green skills, where employers are looking for green-economy skills, such as recycling, sustainability, and energy conservation.

France’s capital, Paris, ranks in second place with over 12,000 green jobs currently available – the highest number of all cities. Lyon, another French city located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, takes third place with 10,554 jobs in sustainability.

Zurich and Munich round off the top five, with 809 and 3,459 jobs respectively. Although the number of jobs available is lower in Zurich compared to the other cities in the top five, the Swiss city benefits from the highest average monthly salary (€6,410).

Berlin ranks in seventh place with over 3,000 available jobs in sustainability and the third-highest number of jobs that require green skills (1,053).

So whether you’re looking for a new job or just want to make a fresh start in a new city, we hope this list provides you with a source of inspiration.