In being named the world’s most livable city, Global Liveability Ranking reviewed 140 cities around the world on more than 30 indicators grouped in five categories: stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure and culture/environment.
“Vancouver remains at the top of the ranking, a position that can only have been cemented by the successful hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which provided a boost to the infrastructure and culture and environment categories,” reads the report.
Vancouver’s overall score on the survey was 98 per cent. Following Vancouver in the rankings were Melbourne, Vienna, Toronto and Calgary. Vancouver has topped the EIU’s Liveability Ranking since 2004.
Vancouver also figured prominently in a ranking by Corporate Knights magazine, a Toronto-based publication that reports on the environmental and social impacts of business. It ranked Vancouver the greenest city in the world, citing its most recent environmental initiatives, including a new curbside compost program, renewable energy projects, the greenest building code in North America and demonstrated climate leadership through exceeding greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The judging committee was also impressed by the city’s work in growing the green economy, including a focus on promoting and attracting green jobs, fostering local clusters in sectors such as green building technology and developing a green economic development strategy.