The European Green City Index is a unique study of the environmental sustainability of 30 of Europe’s leading cities in 30 European countries that Siemens presented during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. This index ranks cities across eight key categories based on 30 individual indicators, both qualitative and quantitative.

Dublin ranked 21 out of the 30 competing cities with a score of only 53.98 out of a possible 100.

Below are some of the key results:

Energy

As a nation powered mainly by fossil fuels, our electricity consumption averages 156 gigajoules per person per year, twice the average of the 30 cities studied. At present only 5% of Dublin’s energy needs come from renewable sources with a Government target of 20% set for 2020.

Water

The residents of Dublin city use on average 128m³ of water per year, which is well above London’s 57m³. The EPA also classifies the Liffey and its tributaries as “moderately” or “severely” polluted.

CO₂

With regards CO₂ emissions; Dublin emits 9.7 tonnes per person per year compared to the EU average of 8.5 tonnes. City plans aim to reduce this by 20-30% by 2020 (as compared to 1990 levels).

Transport

Only 33% of Dubliners choose to walk, cycle or take public transport to work and combined with our poor transport network, Dublin ranked last in this section. Through the Transport21 project Ireland hopes to improve this and also have 10% of all vehicles on the market being electric by 2020.

Waste

Dublin’s percentage of waste recycling was above the group average (28% vs. 18%) however we still produce more municipal waste at 656kg per inhabitant per year in comparison with an average.

Buildings

Dublin’s older housing was not built with energy efficiency in mind and therefore we rank 24^th in this category, with residential and commercial buildings emitting 55% of Dublin’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Air Quality

Air Quality was Dublin’s highest ranking, giving us 4^th place in this section alone. 

The green cities index demonstrates that there is scope for improvement in environmental performance in Dublin. There are policies and strategies in place to address this such as the water metering initiative, Dublin’s Climate Change Strategy 2008-2012 which aims to reduce Dublin’s Carbon Emissions and building retrofit programmes. 

Source: European Green City Index, Siemens