Gothenburg remains highly ranked among the most sustainable cities in the world
Gothenburg made it to the podium, securing the second place after Helsinki in this year’s GDS-Index. The destination continues to hold a strong position as a city at the forefront of sustainable development. The results were announced on 16 October in Bruges, during City DNA’s annual conference for European destinations.

“We are proud of our work in developing Gothenburg as a sustainable destination and of remaining among the top tier of sustainable destinations globally. Our warmest congratulations to Helsinki for securing first place. After seven years at the top, we know what it takes, and we are pleased by everyone who inspires and challenges us,” said Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co.
The GDS-Index is both a development tool and a ranking system launched in 2016 by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement. The ranking measures nearly 80 criteria, covering sustainability in all dimensions: ecological, social, and economic.

“For us, sustainability goes beyond reducing our environmental impact; it’s about creating a future where everyone can benefit from it (residents, visitors, businesses, and nature). The GDS-Index is a powerful way to drive the development of sustainable destinations worldwide. It’s inspiring to see more and more destinations joining the long-term transformation. We look forward to continuing our collaborations,” says Katarina Thorstensson, sustainability strategist at Göteborg & Co.
For more information on the GDS-Index, visit: https://www.gds.earth/