Urban Benchmark
Advancing resilient, sustainable cities where companies contribute to inclusive, thriving urban environments for all people.
As cities grapple with inequality and limited access to essentials like housing, clean water, transport and breathable air, the Urban Benchmark evaluates the biggest and most influential companies shaping cities on their responsibility to advance inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable urban environments.
The utilities sector performs strongest in the Urban Benchmark
The Urban Benchmark shows utilities setting the pace, with 9 of the top 10 companies coming from sectors that directly determine cities’ energy, water and waste outcomes.
East Asia & Pacific companies more than double their top 10% presence to tie with European companies
This year, the East Asia & Pacific region has 13 companies in the top 30 of the Urban Benchmark, matching Europe’s count. This is a considerable jump from only 5 companies in the previous iteration. This growth comes from better performance among companies headquartered in emerging markets such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Water stewardship remains a blind spot for companies shaping urban environments
Only one in fifty companies sets measurable time-bound targets, and one in thirty reports any progress on reducing water use. In urban areas, companies often rely on the same water reservoirs as local populations, increasing strain on shared resources.
While 20% of companies identify climate risks, less than 1% integrate climate change adaptation into business strategy
Nearly one in three companies mention adaptation in their sustainability disclosures, yet these reports commonly lack a documented adaptation plan, alignment with business objectives, or integration into financial planning. This highlights a significant gap between acknowledging climate risks and embedding adaptation into corporate strategy.
More than 4 out of 5 real estate and construction companies score 0 on affordability
Affordability remains absent in sustainability disclosures across the real estate and construction companies. While increasing housing supply is often presented as a solution, the lack of transparency makes it unclear whether new developments address affordability.
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