City Ranking for the Öresund Region: A way forward to improve environmental performance and regional collaboration

Abstract: The world around us is urbanising at a faster rate than ever. Today more than 70 per cent of the European population lives in urban areas, especially small and medium-sized cities. Often, cities are the centres of economic growth. In the context of urban pollution and climate change, cities are at the core of European policies due to their ability to be the ‘places’ where solutions and innovations emerge. Cities compete with each other to attract investors and inhabitants, and showcase their best features. In this aspect, ranking systems provide a tool to benchmark their work, divulge comparative advantages, and define future targets and developmental strategies. This research is aimed at understanding the existing environmental ranking systems in Europe and investigating how these ranking systems can help cities in the Öresund region to improve their environmental performnace and regional collaboration. The qualitative research is based on a methodological triangulation involving literature review, semi-structured interviews, and observations to consolidate the findings. A comparative analysis technique is applied to scrutinize the existing environmental ranking systems, revealing their shortcomings and significant features with respect to the Öresund region. Based on this systematic analysis, the author has proposed an outline for a customised city ranking for the Öresund region, a system that is based on a two-tier structure and constructive post ranking mechanisms. This ranking system could assist regional municipalities to benchmark and improve their environmental performance in close cooperation with other local authorities. Eventually, the ranking system could contribute towards building a network of municipalities leading to sustainable urban development. It is also an important tool in the efforts of making the Öresund region Europe’s first CO2 neutral and climate smart region by 2020.