Sustainability Reporting by Cities

Sustainability reports are common among large firms and on the rise in the public sector. Among local governments, diverse reporting methods and formats have emerged. In times of open data, mere disclosure loses relevance whilst voluntary choices concerning scope, periodicity and integration with other tools are relevant for policy-makers and practitioners. This research presents typologies, an evaluative framework, and empirical findings on the experiences of European pioneers. In Amsterdam, Basel, Dublin, Freiburg, Nuremberg and Zurich, certain sustainability reporting strategies developed in the course of 10 years positively influence learning, decision-making and legitimacy yet not all practices are successful.