A sustentabilidade em cidades pequenas: priorização de indicadores

Abstract

Urban growth and the problems associated with unplanned urbanization have driven the formulation of goals and indicators aimed at promoting sustainability in cities. In this context, initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NBR ISO 37120, and the Sustainable Cities Program stand out, which together bring together hundreds of indicators designed to assess urban performance in the social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Although these instruments are fundamental for guiding public policies and monitoring urban development, their application in small cities faces limitations related to scale, administrative capacity, and data availability, making it necessary to prioritize indicators more suited to the local reality. Thus, this research aims to select urban sustainability indicators applicable to small cities, up to 50.000 inhabitants, considering the three dimensions of sustainability. The methodology is based on a comparative analysis of the main existing benchmarks, the incorporation of the perception of the local population, and technical validation by experts through the application of questionnaires. By integrating social and institutional actors, the study sought to prioritize indicators that are more coherent and sensitive to the specificities of small cities. As a result, a final set of 56 validated indicators is proposed, with greater adherence to the socio-spatial reality of these municipalities and potential for application in sustainable urban planning.