Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we currently face. While some make changes in their personal lives, others are looking to make an impact through their work and where they chose to live.
But which cities in Europe are best to find a green job, and where leads the way for sustainable living overall?
A new study by the hybrid hospitality brand The Social Hub, which is on a journey to be as responsible and impactful as possible, has analysed over 40 cities in Europe to determine which cities offer the most opportunities for those looking for a career in sustainability. The study looks at factors such as pollution levels, tonnes of waste generated per year, the quality of parks and green spaces, and the cost of public transport to find out where is best to lead a green lifestyle.
You can read the full research here: https://www.thesocialhub.co/blog/best-european-cities-for-green-living/
Stockholm and Bruges rank as the best cities for leading a green lifestyle
The Swedish capital was crowned the best European city for a green lifestyle. With 4,045 jobs in sustainability currently advertised, the second-highest air quality of all cities analysed (84.3 out of 100), and a sustainable development score of 85. However, the average cost of public transport is among the highest at €88 per month.
Bruges closely followed Stockholm in second place, boasting the most affordable public transport of all cities at €20 per month, as well as the highest score for parks and green spaces (90 points out of 100).
In third place, Copenhagen has the fourth-lowest amount of waste generated (233,805 tonnes on average, per year), but is known to be one of the most expensive cities to live in in Europe. The monthly cost for public transport is among the highest at €73 per month.
The top 10 cities for green living in Europe:
| Rank | City | No. of jobs in sustainability | Total waste generated (tons/year) | Pollution index(out of 100) | Quality of green & parks(out of 100) | Monthly cost of public transport (€) | Monthly cost of public transport (£) |
| 1 | Stockholm | 4,045 | 399,133 | 18 | 85 | €88 | £77 |
| 2 | Bruges | 8,055 | 497,430 | 22 | 90 | €20 | £18 |
| 3 | Copenhagen | 164 | 233,805 | 21 | 83 | €73 | £64 |
| 4 | Zurich | 809 | 59,000 | 19 | 75 | €92 | £81 |
| 5 | Munich | 3,459 | 1,350,457 | 25 | 85 | €60 | £53 |
| 6 | Vienna | 533 | 1,036,879 | 16 | 85 | €45 | £40 |
| 7 | Oslo | 768 | 360,876 | 22 | 86 | €74 | £65 |
| 8 | The Hague | 386 | 324,302 | 19 | 87 | €55 | £48 |
| 9 | Hamburg | 2,334 | 1,350,457 | 28 | 87 | €96 | £84 |
| 10 | Tallinn | 11 | 202,011 | 21 | 76 | €30 | £26 |
London takes the top spot for a career in sustainability
Looking at the number of jobs in sustainability currently available, London takes the top spot with over 10,000 postings, as well as just under 3,000 jobs looking for people with green skills. These employers are looking for skills relating to recycling, sustainability, and energy conservation. Although the average salary in London is relatively high at €3,461, it’s important to consider the high living costs.
Paris ranks in second place with 12,015 jobs (the highest out of all cities), and 677 jobs looking for people with green skills, followed by Lyon with 10,554 jobs in sustainability.
The top 10 cities in Europe to look for a job in sustainability:
| Rank | City | No. of jobs in sustainability | No. of jobs that require green skills | Avg. monthly salary (€) | Avg. monthly salary (£) |
| 1 | London | 10,417 | 2,784 | €3,461 | £3,047 |
| 2 | Paris | 12,015 | 677 | €2,673 | £2,353 |
| 3 | Lyon | 10,554 | 846 | €2,577 | £2,268 |
| 4 | Zurich | 809 | 200 | €6,410 | £5,642 |
| 5 | Munich | 3,459 | 1,011 | €3,364 | £2,961 |
| 6 | Manchester | 3,654 | 1,246 | €2,595 | £2,284 |
| 7 | Berlin | 3,155 | 1,053 | €3,001 | £2,642 |
| 8 | Hamburg | 2,334 | 844 | €3,194 | £2,812 |
| 9 | Bruges | 8,055 | 30 | €2,000 | £1,761 |
| 10 | Toulouse | 4,600 | 343 | €2,638 | £2,322 |
Amber Westerborg, Director of Sustainability & Impact at The Social Hub says: “Adopting a more sustainable lifestyle is a journey that many want to accelerate. While there are plenty of small steps that people can take themselves – such as buying Fair Trade or B Corp products or choosing vintage over new individual actions can only go so far. By looking at what cities are providing their citizens, from green parks and spaces to affordable public transportation, you can see a more holistic view starting to develop of how systemic change is needed for a more sustainable future. The Social Hub adopts a similar vision, by focusing on integrating green spaces into its designs and working towards making their buildings self-sufficient and futureproof.
“The boom in jobs in sustainability is encouraging to see, as people look for companies that are serious about this transition – something we must do by 2030 to stay within the 1.5 degrees laid out in the Paris Agreement.”
The full findings of the research can be found here: https://www.thesocialhub.co/blog/best-european-cities-for-green-living/
