Sponsored Sites Shop Online for Eco-Friendly Products Ekotribe Carbon Consulting Add your site here.

This is the conclusion arrived at by the study of the social, economic and environmental factors contributing to the environmental sustainability in each major city.

The study evaluates the ten cities in categories such as: CO2 emissions; energy; transportation; air quality; water; waste and green space; and environmental governance.

“A ranking of Asia Pacific green cities has never been done, and this was a response to our clients’ requests for comparative Greentech market opportunities in the region. The analysis will be useful for businesses to understand which cities are more progressive in green development. It is heartening to see that developed Asia Pacific cities have placed an emphasis on ensuring that their city’s ecosystem is sustainable. Developing cities can look towards the top ranked green cities for best practices to leapfrog the learning curve in cultivating a green urban ecosystem,” says Damien Duhamel, the Managing Partner of Solidiance.

Solidiance’s study shows a correlation between green urban environments and innovative ecosystems.

Tokyo is one of the world’s largest cities and yet, it has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions in Asia-Pacific. At 4.3 tonnes per capita, Tokyo is striving to be internationally competitive with other green cities worldwide.

Its ambitious carbon dioxide policy plans to reduce emissions by 25% by 2020 from 2000. The city has a carbon trading scheme – the first in the world to do so, and the first of its kind in Asia. This cap-and-trade scheme will require excess polluters to buy carbon credits from those firms that are within the emissions limits.

The city also has a comprehensive transportation strategy, which aims to reduce green-house gas emissions, where businesses will receive subsidies for electric vehicle purchases and citizens will be able to enjoy 80 electric vehicle chargers by 2013. Because Tokyo has more taxis than New York City and London combined, contributing to 20% of the city’s total emissions, the Japanese capital has converted the old taxi fleet with electric vehicles.

Waste has also been reduced by 50% with the city’s new waste management strategy. With its limited land space, the metropolitan has resorted to burning waste, the by product of which is used for asphalt or as a biofuel at nearby factories.

Japan shows it can still innovate, and the export of green technology know-how to other cities could be the next wave that revitalizes the lagging economy.

The Singapore government has the ability to effectively implement green urban policies, and is likely to climb up the rankings over the next 2-3 years. Singapore is forced to take a pro-active approach, due to its lack of natural resources.