These are the top 10 cities in the world with maximum green cover


  • The Wealth Report in the City Wellbeing Index compiled top cities around the world with the most access to green space.

  • Oslo was the top city in the list with the highest of 68% of public spaces comprise of parks and gardens.
As cities develop most of them end up turning into concrete jungles. But that is changing and greenery is a key element when it comes to assessing quality of life, according to Knight Frank Wealth Report.

“The conventional steel, glass and concrete structures that adorn many a vertical global city are being augmented by more hybrid solutions that integrate sky courts and sky gardens as alternative open and social spaces. They can enhance the health and wellbeing of citizens through exposure to greenery, natural light and ventilation,” Professor Jason Pomeroy, founding principal of Singapore-based sustain-able design firm Pomeroy Studio told The Wealth Report.

While countries New Zealand are creating new sustainable cities like Auranga, a few old cities like Dubai are being revamped in line with the new principles of sustainability. “Who we become as people is defined by where and how we live. The desire is to reimagine a new way of living, not just through technology and gadgets and fitness but by putting wellbeing at the core, and building around it,” Charles Ma of MADE Group told the report.

The report also recognized other initiatives like Barcelona which reworked its city design with “superblocks” that allow pedestrians. “In Amsterdam, which ranks seventh in our index, new blue-green roofs are being installed, which can absorb more water than normal green roofs, protecting homes from flooding, heat and drought,” the report said.

The Wealth Report in the City Wellbeing Index compiled top cities around the world with the most access to green space analysed 40 global cities. European cities dominated the results.

Here is the list of top 10 cities with the most green cover around the globe.


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Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway’s capital bagged the first place on the list, as 68% of the city’s public spaces comprise of parks and gardens, according to the report. In 2019, Oslo was also named the European Green Capital.

Singapore

Singapore

In Singapore, 47% public spaces comprise of lush green parks, tropical nature reserves and botanical gardens. It also has sustainable biodiversity plans to become the world’s greenest city.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, one of Australia’s largest cities, came third as 46% of its public spaces are green. In 2012, the Greening Sydney Plan by the Australian government documented the city’s commitment and aspirations of “living green” elements located on both public and private lands.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, the capital city of Austria ties with Sydney as 46% of its public area is green. Vienna was also ranked as the most liveable city in the world for the 10th time in a row by the Mercer’s quality of life survey, an international consulting firm.

Chengdu, China

Chengdu, China

Chengdu, the capital city of southwestern China’s Sichuan province, came in the fifth position as 42% of its public land was covered with greenery.

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich in Switzerland, which is the global centre for banking and finance, was at sixth position with 41% of its public spaces are green.

Shenzhen, China

Shenzhen, China

Shenzhen is the second Chinese city to make it to the list, with 41% of the public lands dedicated to parks and green space.

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki, which has 40% of the land dedicated to parks and green space came eighth in the list.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong tied with Helsinki and also had 40% of the public land covered with greenery.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden’s capital is the third member of the eighth position on the list after it tied with Hong Kong and Finland. As much as 40% of its public land is dedicated to greenery.