墨尔本入选全球可持续发展最佳城市第六位悉尼落选

据2008年9月14日《悉尼晨锋报》报道，一项世界性的研究显示，墨尔本在公共交通、地方经济、环境卫生教育娱乐和生活水准等方面名列全球可持续发展最佳城市第六位，其它入选的城市还包括：纽约，多伦多，法兰克福，新加坡，伦敦，南非开普敦，阿联酋阿布扎比，印度Hyderabad和巴西的Curitiba。

悉尼和其余澳洲城市均落选。

统计数据也显示，墨尔本将在二十年内超过悉尼成为澳洲第一大城市。

A world study evaluated cities on their efforts to improve sustainability including public transport, local economy, environment, health, education, recreation and living standards. Melbourne rated sixth on the top 10 list of sustainable cities and Sydney was nowhere to be seen.

The list by the influential New York-based Ethisphere Institute is likely to influence where international corporations choose to base themselves and future investment.

Ethisphere encourages ethics in business and its magazine is sent to 65,000 business leaders around the world.

It praised Melbourne for its plans to cut the number of cars in the city, impose a speed limit of 30 kmh, have only 10 per cent of workers commute to the city, build bike paths, introduce a city bicycle rental system, introduce massive energy saving measures, build more affordable housing and increase public transport.

The city also plans to operate public transport 24 hours a day and encourage late-night entertainment.

The study rated Melbourne as a world city of the future along with New York, Toronto, Frankfurt, Singapore, Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Hyderabad, London and Curitiba in Brazil.

The recognition comes as Australian statistics reveal Melbourne is on track to take over from Sydney as Australia's largest city in 20 years.