Forum for the Future looked at the sustainability of the 20 biggest cities, measuring factors such as air quality, wildlife and quality of life. Newcastle, which beat 2008 winner Bristol into second, performed well "on many measures of sustainability".
Brighton and Hove came third, with Leicester fourth and London fifth. Of cities in Scotland only Edinburgh made it into the Top-50. The study measured 13 indicators of environmental performance, quality of life and how well prepared the cities are for the future. This involved looking at issues such as action on climate change and the vibrancy of the local economy.
Newcastle topped the environmental rankings, which included measures on air quality, wildlife and residents' "ecological footprint" - the amount of land it takes to provide them with food, transport, housing, goods and services. It also performed well in quality of life measures such as life expectancy and education, plus its planning for the future, to rise overall in the table from fourth last year and eighth place in 2007.
Peter Madden, chief executive of Forum for the Future, said: "Cities with an industrial heritage face genuine challenges, but Newcastle's success shows that it is possible to overcome the legacy of the past and perform well on many measures of sustainability.
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