Measuring Progress in Equitable Urban Sustainability: Six Key Questions from European Cities
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- (i)
- A population between 500,000 and 5,000,000 inhabitants, with a defined metropolitan area.
- (ii)
- Has formed part of at least two relevant city networks—at least one environmental and one social—to demonstrate commitment to addressing eco-social challenges. The relevant city networks considered are as follows:
- WHO European Healthy Cities Network: A wide-ranging, internationally recognised network of cities committed to prioritising health within governmental economic, social, and political agendas.
- ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability: A global network of over 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Operating in more than 100 countries, it engages municipalities and organisations to promote sustainable development in each territory.
- EU Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy: A voluntary alliance of local governments committed to implementing the EU’s climate and energy objectives, aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement through concrete local climate plans.
- Eurocities: The main network of major European cities, with a focus on key social and economic issues, such as inclusivity and local economies.
- (iii)
- The development of a Local Voluntary Review and/or the attempt to apply the Doughnut Economics framework to the local level.
2. Six Key Questions
2.1. Are Cities Using Similar Theoretical Frameworks to Define and Measure Dimensions of Equitable Urban Sustainability?
2.2. Are Cities Measuring the Same Indicators per Dimension? If Not, How Can We Better Standardise Certain Indicators Across Different Contexts?
2.3. To What Extent Are Political and Theoretical Considerations Affecting the Framing of Equitable Urban Sustainability, as Well as the Selection of Dimensions and Indicators?
2.4. How to Foster Better Measurement of All Stages of an Urban Intervention, as Well as Its Outcomes
2.5. How Reliable, Comprehensive, and City-Specific Are the Collected Indicator Data?
2.6. Is Equity Being Appropriately Measured and Monitored in Cities?
3. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
SDG | Sustainable Development Goal |
UN | United Nations |
EPRES | Employment Precariousness Scale |
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Cash-Gibson, L.; Muntané, F.; Sheehan, M.; Tena Mensa, J.; Benach, J. Measuring Progress in Equitable Urban Sustainability: Six Key Questions from European Cities. Urban Sci. 2025, 9, 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050160
Cash-Gibson L, Muntané F, Sheehan M, Tena Mensa J, Benach J. Measuring Progress in Equitable Urban Sustainability: Six Key Questions from European Cities. Urban Science. 2025; 9(5):160. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050160
Chicago/Turabian StyleCash-Gibson, Lucinda, Ferran Muntané, Mary Sheehan, Júlia Tena Mensa, and Joan Benach. 2025. "Measuring Progress in Equitable Urban Sustainability: Six Key Questions from European Cities" Urban Science 9, no. 5: 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050160
APA StyleCash-Gibson, L., Muntané, F., Sheehan, M., Tena Mensa, J., & Benach, J. (2025). Measuring Progress in Equitable Urban Sustainability: Six Key Questions from European Cities. Urban Science, 9(5), 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050160