Sustainable Cities Index – ranking Australia’s 20 largest cities in 2010

The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Index provides a snapshot of comparative performance in each of Australia’s 20 largest cities, with the aim of encouraging healthy competition, stimulating discussion and suggesting new ways of thinking about our cities.

In 2010 Darwin has emerged as Australia’s most sustainable city, scoring highly on biodiversity, household repayments and employment, despite coming second last on ecological footprint and health indicators. Darwin was followed closely by the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. In contrast Newcastle, Geelong and finally Perth came out as comparatively Australia’s least sustainable cities in 2010.

No city did well across all 15 indicators; and while each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, no Australian city can yet be held up as a real champion in sustainable urban development.

To find out more visit the Sustainable Cities Index.