Toward Sustainable EU Cities : A Quantitative Benchmark Study of 114 European and 31 Dutch Cities

Abstract

The sustainability scores for 114 EU cities were found to vary widely, while variations for the Dutch cities studied were relatively small. Based on these findings, cities can identify their stronger and weaker points and subsequently analyze whether and how these can and should be improved through, for example, local or regional policy initiatives. Population size, demographic dynamics, geographical region, typology and competitiveness (e.g. “disposable income” and “labor productivity”) were found to be important determinants of urban sustainability performance. An advanced European Knowledge and Exchange Program on Improving Urban Sustainability, in the framework of the Urban Agenda, and building on URBACT, for example, could help to improve the present database and better address regionally differentiated urban sustainability challenges.

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