Urban Projects and the Policy-Making Cycle: Indicators for Effective Governance

Francesca Abastante and Beatrice Mecca ()
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Francesca Abastante: Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
Beatrice Mecca: Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: Assessing sustainability in urban projects became a key priority in the face of growing urban complexity. Therefore, how can global sustainability indicators be effectively adapted to assess urban projects at local scales? The paper proposes a framework for integrating sustainability into the decision-making process, aligning urban governance with the 2030 Agenda at the district and building levels. Governments’ growing demand for reliable monitoring, reporting, and evaluation systems underscores the urgency of data-driven tools to guide and adjust policies. In this context, indicators are essential instruments, making sustainability measurable and transparent. Anchored in the global framework of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the paper focuses on SDG 11, integrating strategic targets with operational metrics from Sustainable Assessment Tools (SATs). The research adopts a multi-method approach, combining inductive analysis—guided by the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews—with deductive analysis based on surveys. This study represents the theoretical foundation of the GLOSSA project (GLOcal knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of urban projects), aiming to provide a set of indicators for measuring and evaluating sustainable urban transformation projects. This paper highlights the need to integrate sustainability into urban decision-making, providing an operational framework for sustainable urban governance.

Keywords: indicator; urban sustainability; sustainable development; policy-making cycle; Sustainability Assessment Tools; GLOSSA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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