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Sustainable Urban Development: A Review of Urban Sustainability Indicator Frameworks

Author

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  • Denis Michalina

    (Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia)

  • Peter Mederly

    (Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia)

  • Hans Diefenbacher

    (FEST e. V.—Protestant Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Benjamin Held

    (FEST e. V.—Protestant Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany)

Abstract

The issue of urban sustainability is currently exceptionally up to date, and the sustainable development of cities has become an important topic on the political level. Many cities in the world are facing acute challenges concerning growing dangers to the environment and ensuring quality of life for their inhabitants. In connection with cities achieving their individual goals of sustainable development, urban sustainability indicator frameworks (USIFs) are becoming the subjects of attention. Such frameworks enable sustainability to be clearly measured and assessed. In this article, we analysed selected global and European USIFs in terms of their commonalities and differences, sustainability dimensions, thematic categories, and categorised indicators. Based on the analysis of the content of the reviewed frameworks, we compiled a list of generally recognised thematic categories within the four main dimensions of sustainable development, and we identified the key indicators of urban sustainability. Our review showed differences in the existing approaches that substantially contributed to the current inconsistencies in assessing and measuring sustainable development in cities. Our results provide an overview of this issue, e.g., to decision makers, and could concurrently serve as a generally applicable foundation for the creation of new urban sustainability indicator frameworks. We also point out the current trends and challenges in the domain of urban sustainability assessment.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis Michalina & Peter Mederly & Hans Diefenbacher & Benjamin Held, 2021. "Sustainable Urban Development: A Review of Urban Sustainability Indicator Frameworks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9348-:d:618219
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    13. Laurentiu Nicolae Pricope & Valentin Marian Antohi & Alina Meca & Angela Buboi (Danaila) & Costinela Fortea & Monica Laura Zlati, 2024. "The New European Development Scoreboard for SDG11 at the European Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, September.
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    16. George H. Ionescu & Daniela Firoiu & Andra-Maria Manda & Ramona Pîrvu & Elena Jianu & Maria-Eliza Antoniu, 2024. "Progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals for EU Urban Communities (SDG11)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-21, May.
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