Monocle highly appreciated the compact layout of the city, convenient transport system, restaurants, and especially the interest in environmental protection. As reported by Ioltravel.co.za, the latter characteristic raised the city from second place, which it occupied in last year's ranking, to first.
«Our planet is becoming increasingly urbanized. Radical initiatives for saving the environment must be balanced. For example, banning car traffic in the city can work wonders, but at the same time can ruin trade,» believes the magazine's editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé. «Development projects that bring money to the city force people who made the city lively and attractive to leave.»
Copenhagen also received the title of «world capital of design» – researchers had not seen such development of design thought anywhere in the world since the 1950s-1960s. Madrid received the title of business capital of the world, after shedding its image as the capital of bureaucrats. According to the magazine, the midday siesta makes it a great place to work.
Paris was recognized as the most cosmopolitan city – not least due to the efforts of its progressive mayor Bertrand Delanoë, who in particular included cyclists in the city's traffic scheme. Berlin got the glory of the most cultural city in the world, and the Japanese city of Fukuoka – the palm branch for the best city for shopping.
The top twenty «best cities in the world for living» is as follows: Copenhagen, Munich, Tokyo, Zurich, Helsinki, Vienna, Stockholm, Vancouver, Melbourne, Paris, Sydney, Honolulu, Madrid, Berlin, Barcelona, Montreal, Fukuoka, Amsterdam, Minneapolis, Kyoto. As Lenta.ru notes, traditional New York and London did not make it into the top twenty best cities on Earth.