Sustainable Cities Index 2024: 2000 days to achieve a sustainable future

Client: Arcadis

In 2015, Man Bites Dog invented the first-of-its-kind Sustainable Cities Index (SCI): a pioneering thought leadership campaign that propelled the specialist topic of urban sustainability onto the mainstream news and business agenda and created a powerful brand platform for Arcadis. With the sixth edition of the SCI due to be published in 2024, Arcadis challenged MBD to refresh this visionary Index to help the firm retain its thought-leading position and reignite the urban sustainability agenda.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals represent a global call to action for cities to address environmental challenges and foster a more sustainable and equitable world – and we have just 2,000 days left before the deadline. With the clock counting down to 2030, the 2024 SCI introduces a new dimension: Progress. Evaluating city progress and assessing their future trajectory is vital to ensure urban sustainability remains a priority on the business and government agenda. With more metrics than ever before, the latest SCI highlights the correlation between city progress and global sustainable development. Ranking 100 global cities across 67 sustainability metrics, the 2024 SCI was launched globally with a suite of content assets, including a digital report, video, podcast and an interactive city comparison tool. The campaign generated strong media engagement in the six weeks after launch, securing 750+ pieces of coverage in 30+ countries with an estimated reach of 650 million. The powerful thought leadership platform continues to create opportunities for Arcadis to engage with city influencers to help drive progress.