The Geography Game: Playing on Uneven Ground

While certain cities frequently top sustainability indexes, it is important to consider whether their leading position reflects genuine progress or is shaped by structural factors—including geographical, historical, political, and social contexts—that may not be easily replicable elsewhere.

The white paper observes: "Countries that are built on strong welfare systems and national sustainability policies... tend to score higher." That's not failure—it's context.

Blancas et al. caution that when benchmarking ignores local reality, it may "offer little practical value for improving a destination's model."

Many programmes apply the same indicators across very different contexts. Urban, rural, or island-based—each judged by the same standard. This flattens complexity.

The paper urges, "Establish a clear starting point and focus on comparing cities of similar size, context, and resources." This ensures the goal is insight—not illusion.

If we want meaningful benchmarks, we must adjust the scales.

Place Generation captured their reflections in a whitepaper: The Score is Not the Story, produced by CityDNA in partnership with Simpleview/Granicus to share with other cities.