For years I thought a sustainable city was one that:

  • Used less energy.

  • Had more certified buildings.

  • More electric vehicles.

  • More solar panels.

  • And fewer emissions.

And of course, I still believe all of that matters.

But after touring several European cities and closely following the decisions many of them are making, I'm increasingly convinced I was only seeing part of the story.

Because today I see something that barely came up in the conversation a few years ago.

Cities no longer seem to be asking only how to reduce their impact on the planet. They're also starting to ask how to improve people's lives.

And in my opinion, that difference changes everything.

Because a city can meet the best environmental benchmarks.

And still...

  • Have streets nobody wants to walk down.

  • Public spaces where nobody lingers.

  • Neighborhoods that have lost their everyday life.

  • Shops that disappear because people stopped living the neighborhood.

If that happens...

Can we really call that a sustainable city?

That's the question that's stayed with me these past few weeks.

And I think Europe is starting to answer it in a different way.

The conversation is evolving.

Today it no longer revolves solely around energy efficiency.

It also revolves around things like:

  • The quality of public space.

  • Adaptation to climate change.

  • Restoring neighborhood life.

  • Local, walkable retail.

  • Citizen participation.

  • Urban biodiversity.

  • Quality of life.

Maybe that's why it doesn't surprise me that Europe is talking less and less about sustainable buildings and more and more about sustainable neighborhoods. Initiatives like the New European Bauhaus, alongside urban regeneration projects in cities like Rome, seem to share the same idea: a truly sustainable city shouldn't only reduce its environmental impact; it should also improve people's everyday lives.

I believe that shift in focus deserves our full attention.

Because, deep down, it's telling us something much bigger.

Sustainability is no longer measured only by the impact a city leaves on the planet.

It's also starting to be measured by the positive impact that city has on the everyday lives of the people who live there.

And I believe that's where one of the most important shifts in contemporary urbanism is happening.

Because a truly sustainable city isn't only trying to pollute less.

It's also trying to make people want to:

  • Leave the house.

  • Walk.

  • Meet each other.

  • Talk.

  • Stay.

  • Come back.

And when that happens, many other things start to follow.

  • Neighborhoods come back to life.

  • Local retail grows stronger.

  • Investment finds new opportunities.

  • Public space becomes a gathering place again.

  • The city becomes more resilient to future challenges.

Maybe that's why I'm less and less interested in talking only about sustainable cities.

And more and more interested in talking about livable cities.

Because a truly sustainable city isn't just one that functions better.

It's one that's also better to live in.

I'm increasingly convinced that a truly sustainable city isn't just one that protects the planet better. It's one that also improves the lives of those of us who call it home.

And I believe that will be one of the most important conversations we have about our cities in the years ahead.

Are we ready to start measuring a city's success by the quality of life it offers the people who live in it, too?