CDP ranking of planet-friendly cities. As many as 22 European cities on the list

The CDP organization has released its annual ranking of cities leading in climate action. The list included a total of 119 smaller and larger centers, including 22 European ones. This year’s list confirms that more and more cities on our continent are actively engaged in climate protection efforts.

CDP distinguishes cities by giving them an “A” grade

CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to, among other things, collecting and sharing information on greenhouse gas emissions and climate risk management, water conservation and forestry. Launched in 2018, each year the project culminates in the publication of a list of cities and companies ranked according to their commitment to climate protection and greenhouse gas emissions management. The ranking is considered one of the most important tools for assessing climate action. The marker of the highest quality on the CDP list is an “A” grade (leader level). Only the cities most committed to climate protection receive such a rating. To earn the highest distinction, they must demonstrate transparency and bold climate action, as well as a track record, vision and commitment to fighting climate change.

List of cities published by CDP. Nordic countries lead the way

In this year’s ranking, the leaders were the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. More than half of continental Europe’s leading cities are located within their borders. This is an impressive achievement that confirms the fulfillment of commitments to environmental action. CDP’s analysis shows that cities on the “A” list report four times as many climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in their application form as cities not on the list. For example, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has introduced efficient methods of sustainable resource use, including mandatory sorting and disposal of food waste, which is converted into biogas and biosolids. Helsingør in Denmark is focusing on adaptation to sea level rise after storms and is working with Hundested on a plan to protect Denmark’s northern coast.

In Paris, residents are being mobilized for climate action through numerous informational meetings and training sessions. And Münster, Germany, organizes climate walks, raising citizens’ awareness of the impact of climate change. Milan, Italy, is planning energy retrofits for municipal buildings with the goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The full list of “A” rated European cities in 2023 are: Athens, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Helsingør, Lund, Madrid, Malmö, Mannheim, Milan, Münster, Oslo, Paris, Reykjavík, Zaragoza, Stockholm, Tampere, Trondheim, Turin, Turku, Uppsala and Vantaa.

UK also on the list with an “A” rating

In the UK, which was ranked separate from Europe, as many as 26 cities were listed with an “A” grade. These include major urban centers such as: Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and London, as well as smaller municipalities such as: North Tyneside in northern England and Perth and Kinross in Scotland. This demonstrates that commitment to climate action is not focused on one geographic area.

“A” list shows that climate action is becoming mainstream for cities around the world

This year’s CDP ranking confirms the growing role of cities in global climate protection efforts. Leading cities not only implement bold measures, but also inspire other communities to take similar steps, which in turn contributes to building a more sustainable future. Many cities are capitalizing on the momentum of their past environmental efforts by permanently mainstreaming them into their plans and policies. This is reflected in the growing number of cities that consistently receive an “A” grade, despite the tightening of the criteria for awarding it.

“The year 2023 will be remembered as the year in which centuries-old climate records were not only broken, but actually destroyed in mere days and weeks. While cities around the world have felt the full force of this year’s climate disasters, from heat waves to floods, the positive thing is that many of them are leading by example when it comes to fighting climate change with measurable actions.” – said Maia Kutner, CDP’s director for cities, states and regions. – “However, this is no time for complacency. Cities that don’t report environmental data need to increase their transparency, while many others need to accelerate their efforts to achieve net zero and create a more sustainable future for all, especially the most vulnerable.”