The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has created the first standards to compare services of the world’s cities. The standards provide a way to evaluate a city’s performance based on verified measures on many topics including education, public safety, water, and sanitation. Metrics include those related to air quality, green space, poverty, and health of the population.
ISO wants to encourage higher levels of city service delivery by making the data open and transparent. The data could improve cities’ credit and bond ratings, supporters say, and high-performing cities would be able to argue more forcefully for higher national government assistance and tax sharing. The system could make it tougher for politicians to hide inefficiencies in city policies and administration.
ISO standards makers may also develop measures focused on risk and resilience. Indicators under consideration include the presence of early warning systems focused on threats such as stormwater surges and tornados, or seismic preparedness. The standards are expected to make it easier for cities to compare themselves to others with similar population and characteristics.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Sep 22, 2021
Group proposes Carbon Use Intensity metric for new buildings
Plan would track embedded carbon on projects.
Codes and Standards | Sep 22, 2021
Illinois’s sweeping climate bill includes statewide stretch code, building electrification measures
Aims for zero-emissions power sector by 2045.
Codes and Standards | Sep 22, 2021
Cities need to step up flood mitigation efforts to save lives
Recent storms highlight climate change dangers.
Codes and Standards | Sep 21, 2021
Steps to improve ventilation for Covid can combat colds and flu
New look at airborne disease spread shows time viruses linger in air may have been underestimated.
Codes and Standards | Sep 15, 2021
USGBC will change leaders, conduct strategic review
Aims to ensure organization is ‘well positioned to scale its work in the post-pandemic world’.
Codes and Standards | Sep 15, 2021
LEED-certified offices earn higher rents than non-sustainable properties
Are also more resilient to dips in real estate market.
Codes and Standards | Sep 7, 2021
Boston turns to developer fees to fund flood protection infrastructure
Assessments on commercial properties will help build seawall and other protective measures.
Codes and Standards | Sep 3, 2021
Low-cost methods can have substantial impact on reducing embodied carbon
Whole-building design, material substitution, and specification strategies can slash carbon by up to 46%.
Codes and Standards | Sep 2, 2021
Case for power resiliency in buildings grows with more disaster and outages
Essential businesses like data centers, hospitals are first adopters of new storage systems.
Codes and Standards | Aug 31, 2021
UK industry group wants mandatory whole-life carbon assessments of buildings
Aims to address hidden emissions embedded in supply chains.
