Liverpool has been recognised as one of the world’s leading sustainable cities and ranked among the top 200 cities globally in the latest Oxford Economics Global Cities Index, highlighting the city’s growing international profile and strong environmental credentials.
The 2026 Global Cities Index assesses 1,000 cities worldwide across five categories: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance.
Liverpool was ranked 152nd globally, placing it among the world’s top-performing urban centres and ahead of many well-known international cities. The city’s strongest performance came in the Environment category, where it ranked 79th globally, placing it within the world’s top 100 cities for environmental performance.
The report also identifies Liverpool as one of a select group of global “Sustainable Cities”, recognising cities that have prioritised sustainable growth and are focused on adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change. Liverpool appears alongside international cities including London, Sydney, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vancouver and Amsterdam.
The recognition comes as the city continues to gain international attention for its leadership on climate action, innovation and sustainable urban development.
The Oxford Economics report assessed cities using 27 indicators covering economic performance, talent and skills, quality of life, environmental sustainability and governance.
Liverpool’s environmental ranking places it ahead of hundreds of major cities around the world and reflects the city’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, investing in green infrastructure and supporting sustainable growth.
The report also highlights the growing importance of cities that combine strong environmental performance with innovation, talent attraction and quality of life as they compete for investment and jobs in an increasingly global economy.
Liverpool continues to drive forward major programmes across climate action, regeneration, housing, innovation and business growth, helping position the city as one of the UK’s most exciting urban success stories. These projects include;
- UN Accelerator City for Climate Action – Liverpool became the world’s first UNFCCC Accelerator City, recognised for using culture, music, film and TV sectors to drive decarbonisation and accelerate climate action.
- City-wide Heat Network Programme – Liverpool is developing a major district heat network, including connecting the Three Graces and other key city centre assets, with projected carbon savings of around 72,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
- Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure – Liverpool has significantly expanded its public EV charging network through the deployment of on-street charging points, helping support the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
- Carbon Reduction Programme – The city has reduced carbon emissions by 52% since 2005 through a combination of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy projects and wider sustainability initiatives.
- Knowledge Quarter Innovation and Life Sciences Growth – The council has supported growth in low-carbon, knowledge-intensive sectors through developments in the Knowledge Quarter, including health and life sciences, innovation, research and advanced technology facilities.
- Sustainable Regeneration and Brownfield Redevelopment – Projects such as Pall Mall, Liverpool Waters, the emerging North Docks regeneration programme and city centre housing developments are focused on creating higher-density, sustainable urban growth while reducing pressure on greenfield land.
