Sustainability on target
For Europe's urban environment to become more sustainable, the continent must have specific sustainability indicators and targets in place that it can work towards. This was the objective of the EU-funded project 'Sustainability tools and targets for the urban thematic strategy' (Status). The project aimed to evaluate existing targets and identify new ones, as well as assess current tools used to examine urban sustainability. It also looked at evaluating the applicability and feasibility of these targets and corresponding indicators by involving local authorities and end users in urban sustainable development through online tools. Among the project's most important accomplishments was a thorough review of policy reports, initiatives and projects related to sustainability indicators and targets at the local level. Through this approach it successfully built on previous projects in the field with respect to common European indicators. The Status project also involved stakeholders and policymakers at both local and national levels in the project's workshops, including testing of the online tools it developed. These tools were translated into six languages and helped promote urban sustainability in a novel way, engaging key stakeholders from different sectors. Thanks to these efforts, Europe's urban environment may soon be a better place to live in.
