Description of Characteristics:
- City-Level Sustainability Standard: ISO 37120 is an international standard that defines a set of indicators for measuring the performance of city services and quality of life. The standard covers a wide range of urban services and aspects of quality of life, such as economy, environment, education, health, safety, and infrastructure.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: The standard aims to support evidence-based decision-making and urban planning for sustainable development.
- Globally Applicable: The indicators are designed to be relevant and applicable across different cities and contexts, allowing for benchmarking and comparison.
- Comprehensive: Covers 17 themes and 104 indicators across various aspects of city services and quality of life, including economy, education, energy, environment, finance, fire and emergency response, governance, health, housing, recreation, safety, shelter, solid waste, telecommunication and innovation, transportation, urban planning, wastewater, and water and sanitation.
- Certification: Cities can become ISO 37120 certified by demonstrating their compliance with the standard’s data collection and reporting requirements.
- Voluntary Adoption: ISO 37120 is a voluntary standard, allowing cities to choose to implement it and use the indicators to measure and improve their sustainability performance.
Targeted Audience:
- Cities and Municipalities: Local governments and city officials seeking to measure and improve their sustainability performance.
- Urban Planners and Developers: Professionals involved in urban planning and development projects.
- Investors and Stakeholders: Organizations and individuals interested in assessing the sustainability and livability of cities.
Specific Criteria:
- 19 Themes: The standard covers 19 themes related to city services and quality of life, including:
- Economy
- Education
- Energy
- Environment
- Finance
- Fire and emergency response
- Governance
- Health
- Housing
- Recreation
- Safety
- Shelter
- Solid waste
- Sports and culture
- Telecommunication and innovation
- Transportation
- Urban planning
- Wastewater
- Water and sanitation
- 104 Indicators: Each theme has a set of specific indicators that measure different aspects of performance within that theme.
Reporting Principles:
- Data Quality and Comparability: The standard emphasizes the importance of collecting and reporting data in a consistent and comparable manner.
- Transparency: Cities are encouraged to publicly disclose their ISO 37120 data to promote transparency and accountability.
- Continuous Improvement: The standard promotes the use of data to identify areas for improvement and track progress over time.
Reporting Process (for Certification):
- Data Collection: The city collects data on the 104 indicators using the methodologies defined in the standard.
- Data Verification: An accredited certification body verifies the accuracy and completeness of the data.
- Certification: If the city meets the requirements, it is awarded ISO 37120 certification.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Reporting: Certified cities are encouraged to continue collecting and reporting data on the indicators to track their progress and identify areas for improvement.
Connections to Other Frameworks:
- Complementary to other city-level frameworks: ISO 37120 can be used in conjunction with other frameworks, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, to create a comprehensive picture of a city’s sustainability performance.
- Alignment with ISO 37101: ISO 37120 follows the principles set out in ISO 37101 (Sustainable development in communities — Management system for sustainable development — Requirements with guidance for use), and can be used in conjunction with it.
- Complementary to Other City-Level Frameworks: ISO 37120 can be used in conjunction with other city-level frameworks, such as the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, to provide a comprehensive approach to urban sustainability.
Challenges:
- Data Collection and Management: Gathering and managing data for 104 indicators can be resource-intensive, especially for cities with limited capacity.
- Data Quality and Comparability: Ensuring data accuracy and comparability across different cities can be a challenge due to variations in data collection methodologies and definitions.
- Capacity Building: Implementing the standard may require capacity building and training for city officials and data collection teams.
Compliance Guidance:
- ISO 37120 Standard: The official standard provides detailed guidance on the indicators and methodologies for data collection and reporting.
- ISO Technical Committee 268: The ISO technical committee responsible for developing the standard provides additional guidance and resources.
- Certification Bodies: Accredited certification bodies can provide support in implementing the standard and obtaining certification.
Usability Evaluation:
- Level of Global Adoption: Increasingly adopted by cities worldwide as a tool for measuring and benchmarking sustainability performance.
- Ease of Use: Can be challenging due to the number of indicators and the need for robust data collection and management systems.
- Focus Areas: Focuses specifically on the sustainability of city services and quality of life.
- Data Availability: Data availability can vary across cities depending on their data collection capabilities and resources.
SyncFrame Compatibility:
- Strong Alignment: SyncFrame’s focus on impact measurement, data-driven insights, and community-level sustainability aligns well with the objectives of ISO 37120.
- Data Integration: SyncFrame can facilitate data collection and analysis for reporting on ISO 37120 indicators.
- Expert Guidance: SyncFrame advisors can provide support in implementing the standard and preparing for certification.
Reference Links/Resources:
- ISO 37120 Standard: https://www.iso.org/standard/60128.html
- ISO 37120 – Sustainable development of communities — Indicators for city services and quality of life: https://www.iso.org/standard/60145.html
SyncFrame’s alignment with ISO 37120, along with its focus on data-driven insights and expert guidance, can be a valuable tool for cities seeking to measure their progress towards sustainability goals and demonstrate their commitment to creating thriving and resilient communities.
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