Sydney Ascends To 7th Place For Sustainability Globally, Its Highest-Ever Ranking

Sydney has ranked 7th in the 2026 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), which measures the sustainability of over a hundred popular tourist cities across the world.

Scoring a total of 87.06 points, the result marks the highest ranking Sydney has ever achieved, and places the global city 1st among participating destinations in the Asia Pacific region. 

“Sustainability plays an integral role in achieving the goals of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035,” said Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones, “and it’s exciting to see our beautiful Harbour City recognised for its efforts to improve its environmental performance.”

In first place was Helsinki, Finland, followed closely by Gothenburg in Sweden, Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Aalborg, all in Denmark, and in 6th place, Glasgow, United Kingdom, just ahead of Sydney.

Another Win For Sydney’s Sustainability Agenda

Sydney’s impressive ranking comes just months after the city announced its completion of the Carawatha Solar Farm, which will enable the inner-city suburb of Barangaroo to operate at net zero for decades to come, and weeks after Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) announced it would become the home of the largest solar farm in any central business district in the Southern Hemisphere.  

This proven focus on sustainability, now coupled with a top 10 global sustainability ranking, places Sydney among the world’s leading destinations for international association conferences, corporate meetings, and summits with a focus on renewable cities and environmental protection.

“International event organisers increasingly seek destinations that can demonstrate measurable sustainability outcomes,” said Business Events Sydney CEO Amanda Lampe.

“This result confirms Sydney’s ability to deliver world-class business events while creating lasting economic and social value and supporting responsible environmental stewardship.

“We will continue to work in partnership with the City of Sydney and Destination NSW to strengthen Sydney’s sustainability performance, support our industry partners in delivering responsible business events, and ensure the city remains a destination of choice for organisations seeking meaningful legacy outcomes alongside exceptional event experiences.”