When the United Nations Sustainable Development Organization incorporated “climate change resilience” into its livability assessment system, and when digital transformation and community engagement became new benchmarks for measuring urban vitality, the 2025 global livability rankings saw a historic turning point—Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, ended Vienna’s three-year reign with a comprehensive score of 98, becoming the first Nordic city to top the list due to its “carbon neutrality practices” and “technological innovation ecosystem.” This transformation not only redefined the definition of a livable city but also resonated deeply with the concurrently held Global Migration Expo: as livability becomes a core driver of global talent mobility, how to build bridges to ideal lives for immigrants through policy innovation, resource integration, and service upgrades became the most prominent topic at this year’s expo.
Copenhagen: A Global Model for Carbon Neutrality Experiments
Copenhagen’s rise to the top was no accident. This city of just 1.4 million people has built the world’s most comprehensive green transportation network in a decade: 54% of residents commute by bicycle, the density of bike lanes reaches 3.2 kilometers per 1,000 people, public transportation is entirely powered by hydrogen and electricity, and air quality has ranked among the top three globally for five consecutive years. Even more astonishing is its “cradle-to-grave” welfare system—universal free healthcare covers 98% of diseases, childcare subsidies cover 60% of family childcare costs, and the “15-minute living circle” plan ensures that every community has a kindergarten, clinic, and community center within walking distance.
“Copenhagen’s charm lies in its demonstration that sustainable development and a high quality of life can coexist perfectly,” a UN-Habitat expert pointed out at the expo forum. The city boasts the world’s densest cluster of green technology companies, from Novo Nordisk’s biopharmaceuticals to the Danish National Energy Laboratory’s wind power technology, attracting over 20,000 international talents annually to its innovative ecosystem. The “Copenhagen Experience Zone” set up at the expo, using virtual reality technology, allowed visitors to immerse themselves in life scenarios such as “cycling through a seaside park” and “picking organic vegetables at a rooftop farm,” becoming the most popular photo spot at the expo.
Immigration Policy Innovation: From “Barrier Competition” to “Value Matching”
In parallel with Copenhagen’s rise, global immigration policies in 2025 showed two major trends: first, the expansion of countries offering “fast-track” immigration programs; and second, the mainstreaming of “skills-based” immigration. Canada’s SUV Federal Start-up Visa program allows applicants to wait for approval in their home country, without provincial nomination, and with a language requirement of only CLB 5, making it the top choice for tech entrepreneurs; Australia’s employer-sponsored visa reduced the work experience requirement from 2 years to 1 year and recognized part-time experience; Portugal’s €500,000 investment immigration program eliminated language tests and business background requirements, allowing one application to benefit three generations, attracting a large number of high-net-worth individuals.
“Immigration is no longer a one-way choice, but a two-way match between cities and talent,” immigration expert Li Ming pointed out at the expo’s immigration policy summit. Taking New Zealand as an example, its “Green List” skilled migration policy targets in-demand fields such as IT, engineering, and healthcare, offering priority processing and extra points, resulting in a 47% year-on-year increase in skilled migration applications in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the “intelligent matching system” at the expo analyzed visitors’ educational backgrounds, professional experience, and family needs, combined with a global database of livable cities, to generate personalized immigration plans. After a 35-year-old Chinese software engineer entered his needs, the system recommended Copenhagen, Zurich, and Melbourne, comparing key indicators such as salary levels, tax policies, and children’s education costs, while also providing practical information such as local Chinese communities and language training resources.
From Livable to “Immiable”: A New Logic of Global Talent Mobility
Copenhagen’s top ranking and the expo’s popularity reflect a new logic of global talent mobility: once basic material needs are met, quality of life, social inclusion, and personal development opportunities become core considerations in immigration decisions. As the EIU report states, “Livable cities are not just a combination of ‘safety’ and ‘convenience,’ but also a symbiosis of ‘belonging’ and ‘growth potential.'”
For immigrants, the 2025 Global Livable Cities Ranking and Immigration Expo offer a “guide to the ideal life”—whether it’s the sustainable model of Northern Europe, the multiculturalism of Australia, or the efficiency and balance of Asia, the power of choice is gradually shifting from cities to individuals. The significance of the Immigration Expo lies in breaking down information barriers, allowing every aspiration for a better life to find fertile ground. As the expo’s theme states: “Global Vision, Intelligent Future.” When livable cities and immigration policies resonate, humanity’s pursuit of an ideal life is beginning a new chapter.
