According to a recent global survey, Edinburgh will be one of the twenty most desirable cities to live in by 2020.

The results were published last week by the US environmental and ethical think-tank Ethisphere.

The study assessed a wide range of factors including environmental policy, health and recreational facilities, transport, housing, business development, education, arts and culture.

Edinburgh figured in the list of the ten most desirable ‘mid-range cities’, that is, those with a population of less than 600,000 inhabitants. Other cities in this category included Helsinki and Oslo.

London was the only other UK city that featured in the study, earning the accolade of one of the ten most desirable ‘large’ cities of 2020.

Edinburgh was praised for its "harmony of man and nature" due to the relationship between environment and business making it "sustainable".

The authors paid tribute to city council leaders for their encouragement of growth of local businesses whilst not compromising the "unique qualities of the city".

Specific mention was made of the city’s recycling programme, with rates of recycling having increased fivefold between 2002 and 2007.

Councillor Jenny Dawe, who welcomed the results of the survey, laid out the City of Edinburgh Council’s intentions for the future:

"We want to be leading the most successful and sustainable city region in northern Europe by 2015, helping to maintain an excellent quality of life and competing with the best in the world. That’s an ambitious target, but it’s also achievable and we have to aim high with the outstanding assets Edinburgh has."

Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, highlighted business growth in the region: "Our unique mix of partnership working, the highest level of education in our workforce, strong universities and innovative businesses in a number of important sectors means we are constantly reinventing our capital city and its future".