By Clarissa Oon

Wellington
Population: 190,500

Situated along a curved harbour and with hills, coastlines and forests just a drive away, New Zealand's capital is not short of natural beauty.

Its good public transport infrastructure, skilled and talented workforce as well as a safe, tolerant, diverse and cohesive community all make Wellington 'a great place to live and well placed to meet future sustainability challenges', says the city's mayor Kerry Prendergast.

Ms Prendergast, who will speak at next week's World Cities Summit, says climate protection is one of the key thrusts of the city's current 10-year plan.

Among other things, the city council wants to be carbon-neutral in its operations by 2012 and future homes are planned to be close to public transport.

The council has also partnered with a trust to provide free or low-cost home insulation against heat and cold, to reduce energy inefficiencies.

Copenhagen
Population: 509,900

Cycling is a way of life in Denmark's small, affluent capital city, as is taking summer dips in one of five outdoor public pools in Copenhagen harbour.

A seamless, smog-free network of cycle lanes, an efficient subway system and the cleaned-up harbour have won this design and commercial hub a string of international accolades.

Ranked the world's most liveable city in this month's edition of Europe-based lifestyle magazine Monocle (Singapore was ranked No. 22), Copenhagen's aim is to ensure that 90 per cent of its residents are within walking distance of a park, beach or swimming facility by 2015.

With an abundance of fresh air and wind, it is also trying to rely less on fossil fuels by producing renewable wind energy.

There is a marine-based wind farm just outside Copenhagen harbour and wind energy makes up 26 per cent of total electricity production in Denmark.

Yokohama
Population: 3.6 million

Japan's second largest city after Tokyo is home to one of the country's busiest commercial ports but has a spacious, relaxed feel.

Its charms include modern cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, traditional gardens and waterfront views. Mayor Hiroshi Nakada wants to take the city's quality of life further.

'All of Yokohama City's policies are based on the aim of becoming a sustainable city,' says Mr Nakada, the youngest individual to head one of Japan's major cities when he was elected mayor in 2002, at the age of 37.

He has succeeded in cutting the city's waste by more than 30 per cent through a campaign which gets residents involved in sorting their household trash for recycling.

The mayor is also promoting energy savings through higher air-conditioning temperatures, and seeking to improve trust between residents and officials through an open policy of information disclosure.

He will speak at the World Cities Summit.

Singapore
Population: 4.59 million

Singapore has made the most of its lack of natural resources, with achievements in water treatment and recycling and its many parks and gardens.

Fiscal prudence and canny economic strategies have helped it attain a First World standard of living over 30 years, as long-term land-use planning aims to cater for continued growth while providing a good living environment.

Plans were recently unveiled for another 900ha of park land and a new 150km round-island cycling route.

Many new homes planned in the north and west regions will be located near reservoirs and parks, while Kallang Riverside was recently earmarked to become a vibrant waterfront housing and hotel development.

Singapore is also studying clean energy sources such as solar energy, and is looking to improve the connectivity and efficiency of its public transport system to wean more residents off cars.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 21 June 2008.