The 2026 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) results are out — and we’ve officially (finally!) crossed the 70% mark!

 

Sapporo achieved a score of 73.18%, an improvement of 3.68 points from last year. This also puts Sapporo among the 2026 GDS-Index Top 40 sustainable destinations worldwide.

 
A big step forward for our local suppliers
One of the biggest highlights this year was the Supplier category, where Sapporo’s score increased by 10 points to 59%. This progress reflects the growing commitment to sustainability among the local businesses supporting tourism and business events in Sapporo — from hotels and PCOs to convention facilities. A great example is Sapporo Convention Center, which recently achieved LEED O+M Gold certification.
 
Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint
For the second year in a row, Helsinki, Finland, took the top spot in the GDS-Index, with an impressive score of 92.94%. What stood out to us was a message shared in an interview following the results. When asked what keeps Helsinki motivated to continue its sustainability journey, the message was clear: the city still has a long way to go before it can call itself truly sustainable — and that’s exactly why the journey must continue.
We couldn’t agree more.

The GDS-Index is not simply about rankings or scores. It helps destinations understand where they are today and identify the next steps forward.
 
The Sapporo Convention Bureau will continue working closely with our suppliers, partners and the wider local community to build an even more sustainable tourism and business events destination.
 
70% achieved. The journey continues.