Sustainability reporting for and by cities: A longitudinal analysis of European and Latin American practices

Sustainability reporting is widely promoted as a pathway to better urban governance - but does more data really lead to better decisions, learning, or accountability? While indicator frameworks have proliferated globally, research remains dominated by Western contexts. This leaves the long-term dynamics in the Global South largely unexplored and casts doubt on the explanatory power of existing theories.

This dissertation bridges that gap. Through a longitudinal, comparative analysis of cities in Europe and Latin America, it investigates how reporting initiatives function within their specific ecological niches. Findings show that while reporting can support transparency and policy change, it risks becoming a bureaucratic ritual that loses traction when misaligned with local political realities.

By examining how design choices and stakeholder engagement shape real-world effects, this study moves beyond the "more data is better" narrative. It offers a framework for designing reporting initiatives that are credible, context-sensitive, and capable of producing lasting public value.