The Forum for the Future’s second annual sustainable cities index tracks progress on sustainability in Britain’s 20 largest cities, ranking them on environmental performance, quality of life and future-proofing – how well they are addressing issues such as climate change, recycling and biodiversity.

Bristol comes top overall, thanks in part to its impressive increase in recycling and composting rates - on which it moved up the rankings by 10 places - and its consistently high scores on water quality, waste collection and green spaces. Brighton has moved up the environmental rankings since last year, but not enough to stop Bristol claiming its title. It is commended for its transport services, education provision, green spaces, climate change strategy and recycling rates.

Plymouth’s top ranking in the environmental table reflects water and air quality and the limited impact of its services, housing, transport and consumables on the environment, relative to other cities. It also scored well on employment, life-expectancy and recycling rates.

Newcastle’s future-proofing activities improved its ranking, with green businesses and recycling rates helping it move four places in the overall score.

But the report reveals that a clear North-South divide still exists. Southern cities tend to perform better in the quality of life indicators and all feature in the top 10, while the industrial heritage of the Midlands and North is reflected in lower life expectancy.

Edinburgh and Leeds, which both featured in the top five last year, have slipped further down the scale, dropping four and nine places respectively. Liverpool, Birmingham and Hull remain in the bottom three.

Not even the UK’s best-performing cities can match international leaders in sustainability like Stockholm, Portland in the US and Curitiba in Brazil, the report finds.

Britain's greenest cities in 2008, with 2007 rankings in brackets: