Sustainability for Whom? An Examination of the Equity Pillar of Sustainability at the Local Policymaking Level

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines the question of socioeconomic equity in sustainable cities. Of the three pillars of sustainability, social equity is typically the least researched by scholars and the least addressed by local governments. This gap in the research and policymaking is problematic, particularly, when considering how the environmental challenges of the twenty-first century will disproportionately affect those in lower socioeconomic strata. In order to address these gaps in knowledge and gain a fuller understanding of how sustainable cities address socioeconomic equity, a survey was sent to 135 cities across the United States. The ultimate objectives and goals of this study were to assess how city officials in sustainable cities address these issues of socioeconomic equity, to determine what factors (if any) influence the performance of city officials on the study, and to gain greater understanding on which socioeconomic equity categories and specific policies city officials are likely to favor. Key findings include significant relationships between subcategories and the impact of education levels, Hispanic populations, and geographic location on predicting performances. The article concludes with a discussion of the findings and their implications for urban policymakers and researchers of urban sustainable practices.