Urban smartness and sustainability in Europe. Anex anteassessment of environmental, social and cultural domains

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to define a set of smartness and sustainability indicators applicable to European cities and to assess their outcome in an ex ante perspective with regard to the implementation of Europe 2020 strategy. Following the DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impact, Response) model, we select a bundle of indicators for three relevant sustainability domains (environmental, social and cultural), which are proper to the smart city definition. Then we define groups of homogeneous cities for each domain by using a two-step cluster analysis. Results show the existence of heterogeneous groups of cities that are likely to become smart in the cultural domain, side by side with groups of more developed urban areas that have acquired a substantial advantage in the environmental and social dimensions. ARTICLE HISTORY

Global urban sustainability assessment: A multidimensional approach

“…Existing smart and sustainable cities indicator frameworks include the United Nations Guidelines and Methodologies on Sustainable Development Indicators (UN, ), EU Sustainable Development Indicators (European Commission, ), a Sustainable Development Indicators Framework (UNECE, ), new ISO 37120 standards on Sustainable Development of Communities (ISO, ), a Sustainable Development Goals framework (UN, ), and a Smart Sustainable City Indicator Framework (UN ECOSOC, ). These frameworks are discussed extensively in a range of comparative reviews (Ahvenniemi, Huovila, Pinto‐Seppä, & Airaksinen, ; García‐Fuentes et al, ; Girardi & Temporelli, ; Hara, Nagao, Hannoe, & Nakamura, ; Kierstead & Leach, ; Klopp & Petretta, ; Manitiu & Pedrini, ; Monfaredzadeh & Berardi, ; Pierce, Ricciardi, & Zardini, ; Spangenberg, , ; Spangenberg, ; Spangenberg, ; Valentin & Spangenberg, ).…”

“…(UN, 2015a), and a Smart Sustainable City Indicator Framework (UN ECOSOC, 2015). These frameworks are discussed extensively in a range of comparative reviews (Ahvenniemi, Huovila, Pinto-Seppä, & Airaksinen, 2017;García-Fuentes et al, 2017;Girardi & Temporelli, 2017;Hara, Nagao, Hannoe, & Nakamura, 2016;Kierstead & Leach, 2008;Klopp & Petretta, 2017;Manitiu & Pedrini, 2016;Monfaredzadeh & Berardi, 2015;Pierce, Ricciardi, & Zardini, 2017;Spangenberg, 2002aSpangenberg, , 2002bSpangenberg, 2005;Spangenberg, 2017;Valentin & Spangenberg, 2000).…”

Social Justice: Disparities in Average Earnings across Portuguese Municipalities

“…The level of education in current societies, which privileges social networks, skills, and qualifications, seems to be an important determinant in the distribution of the quality of life in European cities (Higgins et al 2014). A similar approach was defended by Manitiu and Pedrini (2016) when stressing the implications of the interrelationships between wages and worker skills in the concentration of economic activity and the population within linked interactions.…”

A Spatial–Temporal Analysis of Cultural and Creative Industries with Micro-Geographic Disaggregation

“…In this vein, the creative economy has also become an important instrument in regenerating cities, contributing to a revised spatial model of urban structure, and helping in the redevelopment of old areas of towns, especially in old industrial districts with abundant industrial heritage [8]. The development of the CCI sector also contributes to designing a new image and competitive profile of enclaves in the line of smart cities and creative cities [9,10]. Finally, some studies also point to the possibility of a certain dissemination process of the CCI sector to less-urbanized and rural territories due to the spatial independence of many of these activities that are associated with talent or creation.…”