Green Cities
These 5 Cities Are Clearing the Air
September 7, 2025
A hundred years ago, billowing smokestacks and layers of smog were seen as societal progression. However, according to the most recent State of Global Air’s report, air pollution caused 8.1 million deaths in 2021, or more than 1 in 8 deaths globally. In fact, poor air quality is the second leading risk factor for death worldwide.
Partly in response to this, and to keep reminding us that gray smog blanketing cities across the globe is not something to celebrate, every September 7th is International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. Now, we can celebrate the cities around the world that champion their clean, bluer skies.
Sydney, Australia
Through the cloudy skies of seasonal bushfires and dust storms, Sydney still ranks for having the cleanest air in the world. In 2015, Australia established the National Clean Air Agreement, which sets a framework for guidance on air quality issues which is reviewed and updated every two years. The most recent work plan aims to further ensure consistent air quality reports, as well as continue to assess motor vehicle emissions.
Australia’s Clean Air Agreement has raised fuel quality standards by lowering the toxic aromatic content in diesel and gasoline, as well as lowering sulfur limits. This is significant in reducing harmful emissions as air pollution occurs when harmful gases and particles contaminate the air, making it unsafe to breathe. Burning fossil fuels, like diesel, releases major pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10). So, cutting back on running vehicles powered by toxic chemicals and fossil fuels helps keep the air cleaner.
Sydney has been preparing for a growing urban population, as people migrate to cities for work and opportunities. To try and get ahead of the added pollution that might occur, Sydney’s been phasing out the use of older, higher polluting vehicles in favor of newer cleaner EV vehicles. In June 2022, the government has set a goal to completely transition Sydney’s fleet of buses to full electric by 2035. Sydney has also introduced the Roadside Air Quality Screening Tool, which helps them assess how air quality is impacted by road traffic, and gives the city additional data to make decisions for clean air.
Taipei, Taiwan
Nationally, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment recently increased their air quality standards, by making them the strictest limits in Asia.
The nation’s capital, Taipei, has an efficient public transportation system, the Mass Rapid Transit, established in 1996 and has greatly influenced the city’s air quality. Motorcycles were common in Taipei, and they have caused a lot of environmental harm but motorcycle use decreases around MRT stations, showing how powerfully effective public transport can be.
Taipei is also seeing a rapid expansion in the volume of electric vehicles on the road, largely driven by government subsidies, with a goal to have more than 4,000 electric buses operating by the end of 2025 as well.
In addition, Taipei has a long list of initiatives to combat the changing climate and in the last six years has widely embraced renewable, clean energy with the solar panel installations increasing nearly tenfold.
Montreal, Canada
The transportation sector accounts for 25% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, heavy investment has been made in sustainable transportation. The Active Transportation Fund has allocated an average of C$3 billion annually into permanent public transit development, a program scheduled to start in 2026-27. This will support all modes of non air polluting transportation–from walking to cycling to rollerblading, and even cross-country skiing!
The Greater Montreal Climate Fund invests in decarbonization projects and programs in the greater Montreal area. The Trottier Foundation established the Greater Montreal Climate Fund in 2020, and since then, they have awarded 35 grants and have invested an accumulated C$1.6 million for projects like MultiRés, a program that renovates residential buildings to be more energy efficient. They have also made significant investments to 7GEN, which is working on electrifying Quebec’s school buses.
Montreal was one of the first major cities in North America to commit to electrifying their buses by 2025, resulting in the creation of the Zero Emission Transit Fund. The goal is to now invest in electric buses across Canada. The government plans to purchase 5,000 zero emission buses for school and public transportation.
Zürich, Switzerland
Switzerland has high standards when it comes to sustainability, and is even stricter on vehicle emission policies, which seem to tighten each year. Zürich, despite being Switzerland’s most populated city, is considered one of the most sustainable destinations in the world.
Which is why it is home to one of the most well-organized transportation systems in the world, where almost 50% of households do not own a car, and 27% of people rely on walking.
The city has been expanding its infrastructure to support more cycling through the Masterplan Velo, which aims to double cycling participation by the end of 2025. Bike friendly spaces can be found throughout the city, there are even bicycle drive-in cafes. Cyclists can pull in and order a cup of coffee all without ever having to hop off the bike.
No space is wasted in Zürich, city developers have creatively put pollution measurement sensors on street lamps, antennas, and rooftops to monitor air quality!
Moscow, Russia
Despite being one of Europe’s most populated cities, Moscow stands out for its progressive clean air policies. Moscow’s environmental monitoring agency, Mosekomonitoring, gathers and reports data on the health of the city’s air, water, and soil daily.
Overall, Moscow has been working towards a gradual transition towards electric vehicles. In 2023, the city invested in 1,200 electric buses. Thanks to the investments in renewable energy and data monitoring, urban air pollution in Moscow has decreased over the past decade–with carbon oxides by 2.3 times, nitrogen oxide by 2.2 times, and particulate matter by 1.8 times.
Polluted air harms human health, often causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Tiny particulate matter that we cannot even see presents the most harm to humans, as its minuscule size can enter the lungs and even infiltrate the bloodstream.
Our Power, Our Planet
The World Health Organization sets clean air guidelines that countries use to shape policy. These five cities are all breathing easier than anywhere else on Earth because they have prioritised clean, blue skies!
The common denominator between these five cities is their dedication to sustainable development rooted in renewable energy. As the effects of climate change accelerate, we need to speak up about the changes our society needs to make. For Earth Day 2025, our theme is Our Power, Our Planet. Act now rather than later, and sign our Renewable Energy Petition.
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