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Ljubljana Among the World’s 40 Most Sustainable Cities for the First Time

Ljubljana Among the World’s 40 Most Sustainable Cities for the First Time

Ljubljana has been ranked among the world’s 40 most sustainable cities for the first time as part of the international Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) – a comparative programme led by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement that measures, benchmarks and drives the sustainable development of destinations worldwide.

A boat on the Ljubljanica River

The GDS-Index evaluates and compares sustainability strategies, action plans and initiatives of destination management organisations, convention bureaus, municipalities, regional and national tourist boards. Efforts are assessed through 76 quantitative and qualitative indicators across four key areas: environmental, social, destination management and supplier performance. This year, Ljubljana achieved a score of 70.76%, an improvement of 6.6% over last year, placing it 39th globally. The top 40 destinations are recognised as global leaders in sustainability and regenerative practices, demonstrating outstanding efforts to create a positive impact on their cities, residents, and visitors.

More than 80 destinations participated in this year’s benchmarking analysis. Finland’s capital Helsinki took first place, followed by Gothenburg (Sweden), Copenhagen and Aalborg (Denmark) and Glasgow (Scotland). Among mid-sized cities, Ljubljana ranked 7th, significantly exceeding the average score for Central and Southern Europe (65%) and even surpassing by nearly one percentage point the traditionally high-performing Northern Europe (70%).

The GDS-Index is not a certification or quality label but a continuous improvement programme that evaluates and accelerates destinations’ progress toward regenerative tourism. By participating, destinations demonstrate their commitment to environmental, social, and economic well-being – strengthening their reputation and attracting responsible visitors and event organisers.

Ljubljana has been part of the GDS programme since 2018, when it achieved a score of 45.14% in its first evaluation.

Source: Ljubljana Tourism
Photo: Andrej Tarfila

 

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