This Finnish city is a model of sustainability, low-waste living and green mobility

In Lahti, cyclists can be rewarded for the amount of carbon they prevent from being released into the air as a result of their travel choice. Photo: AFP

It's not without good reason that Lahti has been named this year's European Green Capital. The Finnish city stands out for having shrewdly managed its transition from the old industrial city it was in the 20th century to the modern, green city it has become today.

Like many Scandinavian countries, Finland stands out when it comes to ecology and sustainability. Lahti, a city of 120,000 inhabitants, is an excellent example of this, with its air quality, recycling policy and waste management.