The achievement recognises Copenhagen’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism, and reflects the city’s targeted efforts to accelerate the green transition both locally and globally.
EarthCheck’s internationally recognised destination certification is grounded in science, using performance-based metrics and a broad set of criteria spanning environmental, social and economic indicators. Independent third-party audits ensure destinations deliver measurable results and build trust with travellers, stakeholders and communities.
The Lord Mayor of the Municipality of Copenhagen, Lars Weiss, said the certification affirmed the city’s progress in creating a more liveable, sustainable destination for both residents and visitors.
“Copenhagen is a world-class city, with a clean and swimmable harbour, a strong culture of recycling, and a deep commitment to sustainability,” Mr Weiss said.
“I’m proud that we can now also call ourselves a certified sustainable destination. Tourism strengthens our city, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that Copenhagen continues to grow as a place people want to visit — and a city that develops sustainably for the future.”
Stewart Moore, CEO and Founder of EarthCheck, congratulated Copenhagen on reaching this important milestone.
“Copenhagen has shown tremendous leadership in embedding sustainability into its tourism strategy and operations,” Mr Moore said.
“Certification through EarthCheck independently verifies a destination’s commitment to continuous improvement, transparency and genuine environmental and social outcomes. We are proud to support Copenhagen’s efforts to build a resilient, responsible and globally competitive tourism economy.”
The certification is the result of close collaboration between Wonderful Copenhagen, the official tourism organisation of the Capital Region of Denmark, and the Municipality of Copenhagen. It aligns with Wonderful Copenhagen’s ‘Copenhagen, All Inclusive’ tourism strategy, which aims to support sustainable development.
In addition to achieving destination certification, Wonderful Copenhagen is actively supporting individual tourism businesses across the city to begin their own sustainability journeys, with more than 70 companies already undertaking certification processes.
Wonderful Copenhagen’s work is part of a broader national ambition to have 70 per cent of accommodation providers and all amusement parks in Denmark certified for sustainability by 2030. Copenhagen is also ranked third on the Global Destination Sustainability Index, reflecting its position as a leader in sustainability.
Søren Tegen Pedersen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, said that at a time when travellers are actively seeking experiences that reflect their values, EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Certification provides independent verification that Copenhagen’s environmental and social initiatives are delivering real, measurable results.
“Sustainable transformation is not only essential in a world facing significant challenges — it’s also a key competitive advantage for tourism in the capital,” Mr Pedersen said.
“That’s why it’s so important to be able to document our progress through independent, third-party certification. Alongside our own organisational certification, we’re supporting both individual operators and now the destination itself to raise the bar. At the same time, we’re working to influence tourist behaviour in a more sustainable direction.”
Interested in achieving the sustainability certification used by the world’s leading destinations? Learn more about the EarthCheck Sustainable Destination program and how to get started.
