The GDS-Index is a destination-level programme that measures, benchmarks, and improves the sustainability strategy and performance of tourism and events destinations.
The GDS-Index is aligned with international standards; UN SDGs, GSTC Destination Criteria, UNWTO.
Click here to read more about the benchmarking methodology including data collection and verification, the four benchmarking categories, governance and criteria development and performance scoring methods.
This page highlights each destinations sustainability journey and will showcase their journey.
The 2024 GDS-Index comprises 77 indicators across four categories. Here is the total score and the score for the four categories for this destination.
Environmental
Social
Supplier
Destination Management Organisation
Environmental
Includes a city's performance pertaining to its policies and infrastructure, such as climate change commitment, carbon emissions, renewable energies, resource and water management, public transport, and air pollution levels.
Social
Indicates the performance of the city against indicators of SDG integration, Corruption, Personal Safety, Access to Information and Communications, Health and Wellness, and Inclusivity, using external sources such as the Social Progress Imperative Index, and Corruption Perceptions Index.
Supplier
Addresses the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meetings' industry supply chain, including airports, events agencies, hotels, venues, and restaurants.
Destination Management Organisation
Indicates the sustainability commitment, including questions pertaining to maturity of a destination's sustainability and regeneration strategy, leadership, communication of sustainability initiatives (to support client planners), and the accuracy of their reporting on sustainability operations.
The German capital plays a pioneering role as a political center and as one of Europe's most important economic nations and trendsetter metropolis. Berlin is one of Europe's largest science centers, a start-up and NGO hub, a hotbed of innovation and the future, and a cultural melting pot. Berlin is one of Europe’s top three travel destinations and a trendy green, healthy and water-rich city. Trend conscious Berliners live up to LOHAS ("lifestyle of health and sustainability"). The desire to preserve and expand green oases, coupled with the willingness to follow sustainable and alternative paths, makes Berlin a green metropolis on all levels. Tourism in Berlin is oriented at the Sustainable and City-Compatible Berlin Tourism Plan 2018+ of the state of Berlin. With this, Berlin is breaking new ground: we are setting new inspirations, focusing on lesser-known places and working very closely with Berlin's districts. The city is also well known for its sustainable event and tourism initiative and certification scheme Sustainable Berlin - a program for suppliers from the leisure and the event industry as well as an innovative online platform for more sustainable events in Germany’s capital. Rivers, lakes, park and woodlands weave like ribbons of blue and green through the city. Often they are connecting elements between neighbourhoods, which, each with their own distinctive characters, fuel the German capital’s special feeling for life. Step by step Berlin is changing towards a destination where our guests can explore Berlin in a sustainable manner.
Does visitBerlin have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Berlin have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does visitBerlin report on its sustainability performance?
Berlin is a green capital. The city invites its guests and residents to enjoy one of the more than 2,500 public green and recreational facilities and to use the environmentally friendly and very well developed public transport system. Also, more safe bike lanes are added every year. Berlins aims to be climate neutral by 2045, or ideally before. To reach this important goal, the city developed a progressive climate policy, and established the Berlin Energy and Climateprotection Program (BEK 2030). Furthermore it is important for the city of Berlin to organize its resources and economy in cycles to produce as little waste as possible. With regard to energy production, Berlin is in the process of steadily increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
THE CITY’S
2030 CARBON
REDUCTION TARGET
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
With the initiatives of Sustainable Berlin, we have set ourselves the goal of supporting the sustainable approaches of tourism suppliers and event service providers and giving guests and event organisers practical and transparent guidance for greater sustainability in planning their stay or event. To achieve this end, we have worked together with service providers of the sector to develop a set of criteria taking internationally recognised guidelines as their point of reference and serving as a sustainability management system. The criteria have been recognized internationally as aligning to the industry standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). With Sustainable Berlin we are looking to strengthen Berlin as a sustainable destination and raise awareness of the possibilities of sustainable events and tourism. By adopting this approach and creating a strong movement in Berlins tourism and event industry, we can ensure that tourism and events have a more positive influence on the environment and society over the long term.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
The Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development play an important role for the city of Berlin. For this reason the cities very own sustainability strategy is aligned with the SDGs. Berlin is a multicultural, tolerant, cosmopolitan and safe place, with a high social progress index. Also when it comes to accessibility, most of the city's walkways and public transport system are adapted to make the access for people with disabilities easier.
The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.
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