Geoff: Let’s start with a (very) brief overview of the Index. It is one of the most comprehensive and in-depth examinations of its kind in the industry. It looks at how well 100 cities across the globe are performing and how improving quality of life is possible in their communities. Given the newly published 2024 edition is the 6th, it’s clear that it continues to be relevant and useful. It has now grown to report 67 metrics allowing us to highlight the evolving understanding of urban sustainability. To date it has used three pillars: planet, people, and profit, but for the first time, this year’s report adds a fourth pillar to the Index—progress.

 

Maja: progress is key, as it’s a good metric for assessing whether and where there are barriers to improvement. For example, North American cities dominate the profit pillar. The likes of San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, New York and Seattle all appear in the top 10 thanks to their ease of doing business, GDP per capita and employment rates, but they have lower overall rankings. In order for them to move higher, improvements to inclusive development and public transport investment strategies will be critical.  

 

Geoff: So why do you think certain cities score well overall?

 

Maja: Well, 9 of the top 10 cities in the planet pillar also secured top 10 positions in the overall ranking—suggesting that infrastructure for urban sustainability like sustainable energy systems and low-emission transportation should be key focal points for cities looking to effect meaningful change.

 

Geoff: Yet I was interested to see that high performance in the profit pillar does not necessarily come at the expense of environmental sustainability though. This clearly indicates that a thriving economy can and should support investment in infrastructure, alternative energy sources, green initiatives and social programs.  

 

Maja: And perhaps profit maintains momentum and therefore progress?

 

Geoff: Yes. It’s in progress, comparatively, where London isn’t performing as well. Progress toward a sustainable future relies heavily on the sustainability performances of our cities. Yet the data consistently indicates that cities worldwide must do more. As cities strive for sustainability, they encounter complex challenges and require substantial investments, whether in renewable-centric power grids, retrofitting aging building stock with energy-efficient power systems, or addressing systemic biases hindering equality.

 

Maja: Complexity is prevalent in both the data and how the metrics influence each other. That’s why the Index has been supplemented by client conversations focusing on specific micro themes such as the use of people-centric, and place-based metrics, and also by our Better Cities by Design podcast. 

 

Geoff: But enough talk… with just 2,000 days to go, the challenge is to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation. Whether that’s by scaling up renewable energy initiatives, integrating climate considerations into infrastructure planning, improving mobility through intelligent traffic management, or supporting the retrofit of existing buildings through planning and investment—there are always areas to improve on. As the 2030 deadline approaches, cities must build on their successes, identify areas for progress and foster collaboration to address challenges with ever greater urgency and determination.