Zürich - Sustainable City

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Sustainable City

Zürich

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Europe Switzerland Zürich Sustainable City

Overview

Sustainable City The guide was updated: 2024-09-16

Zürich is consistently named one of the world's most environmentally conscious cities in the world. The majority of the city's electrical power now comes from renewable energy sources and almost half of the waste gets recycled. Zürich is committed to a 2000-Watt Society plan for radically reducing both energy use and carbon emissions.

The city has a complex approach when it comes to sustainability. Zürich constructions are encouraged to build up and conserve available natural spaces to promote walking and biking within the city. The use of concrete as a building material is reduced to lower carbon emissions. The city has the highest water quality standard in the world, both for drinking and bathing. The air quality is continuously improving — micro-particle emissions have been reduced by 50% in the past 25 years. Zürich greenbelt projects allow free movement of indigenous species throughout the region, maintaining biodiversity.

As a tourist, you can contribute to the sustainability movement by staying in an officially eco-labelled hotel. Finding one is easy since 70% of the hotels are sustainable certified. During your trip, you have all the conditions for walking and biking instead of driving, eating organic food and exploring the natural beauty of the region.

myclimate Audio Adventure

myclimate Audio Adventure

The non-profit foundation myclimate with Swiss roots offers three tours: one for adults, one for teen and one for kids. The goal is to help you discover more about biodiversity, pedestrian-friendly areas and climate protection. All you need to do is download the free app and select one of the stories. The audio recording is about 60 minutes long. You can do the tour on foot, which would take about 2.5 hours, or rent a bike. For adults: Heat from the river Limmat, biodiversity and new forms of housing. For teens (over 11 years old): Mia wants to know! For kids (over 5 years old): The lizard from Zurich Central Station.

University of Zürich Botanical Garden

University of Zürich Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of the University of Zürich shows off its broad collection of flora, both local and imported, on the 5.6 hectares that were laid out in the 1970s. Even when it's raining or when it's cold, you can visit the tropical greenhouses. Each glass bubble represents distinct climate: the sweltering humidity of the tropics, the dry heat of the Mediterranean, and the flowering alpine meadows.

Outdoor Swimming

Outdoor Swimming

The best way to cool down is by plunging into the clear, refreshing water. All the better if you don't even need to leave the city centre to do it. Zurich offers sandy beaches and grassy area to sunbathe, diving towers, panoramic views of the Alps. Read a book in the shade of the trees, swim in the lake or the river — Zürich has a bathing spot for every taste. The public bathing traditions on Zürich stem from the Romans. Today, you can find more than 15 open-air baths. Many locations are equipped with showers and changing room.

Enea Tree Museum

Enea Tree Museum

The 75,000 m² park near Lake Zurich in Rapperswil-Jona is a "tree museum" shows trees from 25 species as well as sculptures by international artist. The park was designed by the famous landscape architect Enzo Enea. It's an amazing place for lovers of art, nature and tranquility.

Uetliberg — Top of Zürich

Uetliberg — Top of Zürich

Uetliberg is called Zurich’s very own mountain. The 870 m (2,850 feet) summit gives you views of the city and lake, plus a glimpse of the Alps. You can quickly and easily get to the mountain with the S10 line. There is lots to discover: well-marked hiking and bike routes, the Planet Trail walk that takes you on a tour through a model of our solar system. In the winter, the hiking trail becomes a toboggan run. Uetliberg is especially popular in November, when the Uto Kulm summit is often above the blanket of fog.

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