UN Designates Gothenburg as Global Sustainability Hub

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Swedish city becomes the second destination worldwide to receive prestigious UN recognition for sustainable tourism leadership

The United Nations has officially designated Gothenburg, Sweden, as its newest “Sustainable Lifestyle Hub” during the annual high-level meeting in New York this week. The announcement positions the Swedish city as only the second destination globally to receive this prestigious recognition, following Tuscany, Italy. The designation was unveiled on September 24 at UN headquarters.

For nearly a decade, Gothenburg has consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable cities in the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

The city has successfully integrated environmental, social, and economic sustainability across multiple sectors, including tourism, culture, urban development, and business. As one of the EU’s 100 climate-neutral cities, Gothenburg has set an ambitious target to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

The UN’s Sustainable Lifestyle Hub initiative, part of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, aims to create meeting places where global and local stakeholders can collaborate on sustainable lifestyle solutions. Over the next two years, Gothenburg will be a platform for developing projects that advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Being here at UN headquarters among world leaders and putting Gothenburg on the global map is very solemn, but also recognition and trust,” said Katarina Thorstensson, sustainability strategist at Göteborg & Co, who presented the city’s various sustainability projects at the New York event.

The first major activity is planned for early 2026, marking the beginning of what promises to be an intensive period of international collaboration and innovation.

Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co, emphasised the designation's honour and responsibility: “Being host to the UN’s Sustainable Lifestyle Hub is an honour, but also a responsibility. We want to show what Gothenburg has already achieved and invite the world to create next-generation solutions together.”

Annemarie Hou, CEO of the UN Office for Partnerships, highlighted the initiative’s broader significance: “Local solutions can pave the way for global transformation. Together with Gothenburg, we will accelerate sustainable lifestyles and connect local efforts with global impact.”

The designation reinforces Gothenburg’s position as a pioneer in sustainable tourism and urban development, building on its previous recognition as Europe’s Smart Tourism Capital and its consistent appearance on lists of sustainable travel destinations worldwide