In an age when living, consuming and travelling need to be combined with environmental, ethical, social and compassionate considerations, Paris has embarked on a sustainable approach in a number of domains. Principal among these is tourism, including the range of promising initiatives that define the sustainable face of what is the world's leading tourist destination.
 
Paris is linked to the rest of Europe thanks to its six train stations at the very centre of the capital’s urban network. Paris ensures it is only a few hours by train from Europe's major cities, as development of its TGV lines is continuing to prove. 

The 21st century traveller gets around Paris by mass transit, but also by Vélib’ and soon by Autolib’, eating organic food in specialist restaurants and enjoying walks in one of the city’s 400 green spaces. In doing so, he expands the scope of his discovery as a tourist to the lesser-known districts of Paris and seeks out encounters with people who live in the city. Very soon, the reality of being a ‘responsible tourist’ - in the same way as being a ‘responsible citizen’ - will be matched by that of professionals, major players in sustainable tourism. 

Paris is equipping itself with tools and coming up with answers to make the most of the natural, cultural and social resources it already possesses, for the long term. This includes awarding ‘green’ accreditation to greater numbers of hotels and favouring urban transport initiatives that respect the environment. Without forgetting participatory and fair cultural tourism that it seeks to promote. Initiatives which in 2009 put Paris in the top 10 green cities in Europe.