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Urban Benchmark

Advancing resilient, sustainable cities where companies contribute to inclusive, thriving urban environments for all people.

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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. 

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AT A GLANCE
The utilities sector performs strongest in the Urban Benchmark
AT A GLANCE
East Asia & Pacific companies more than double their top 10% presence to tie with European companies
AT A GLANCE
Water stewardship remains a blind spot for companies shaping urban environments
AT A GLANCE
While 20% of companies identify climate risks, less than 1% integrate climate change adaptation into business strategy
AT A GLANCE
More than 4 out of 5 real estate and construction companies score 0 on affordability.

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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Company scoreboard

The Urban Benchmark focuses on 300 companies that significantly impact urban sustainability across four key industries: real estate, construction and engineering, transport, and utilities. In addition to the core social indicators (CSIs) which span all of WBA’s benchmarks, the assessment scores companies across 24 indicators specific to the Urban Benchmark, spread over four different measurement areas: Sustainable governance, Inclusive cities, Healthy cities and Climate change and resilient cities.

Urban Benchmark

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300
Companies listed
12.2/100
Average score
Company Name Total Score Sustainable governance Inclusive cities Healthy cities Climate neutral and resilient Cities Core social indicators
1
Iberdrola
40.3/100
70.0/100
56.2/100
8.3/100
25.0/100
44.4/100
4
United Utilities Group
33.5/100
60.0/100
47.1/100
12.5/100
25.0/100
25.0/100
28
Perusahaan Listrik Negara
24.0/100
30.0/100
43.6/100
8.3/100
20.8/100
14.8/100
34
Saudi Electricity Company
23.1/100
35.0/100
41.4/100
12.5/100
16.7/100
8.8/100
67
Aqualia
19.5/100
20.0/100
37.4/100
8.3/100
12.5/100
16.7/100
2
Enel
36.8/100
70.0/100
35.7/100
8.3/100
25.0/100
50.5/100
22
Adani Energy Solutions
25.4/100
45.0/100
32.1/100
16.7/100
20.8/100
14.4/100
=119
Thames Water
13.8/100
15.0/100
31.9/100
0.0/100
12.5/100
6.9/100
=78
Metropolitan Electricity Authority
17.9/100
30.0/100
31.7/100
4.2/100
12.5/100
10.7/100
=110
American Water Works
14.6/100
25.0/100
31.4/100
0.0/100
8.3/100
6.9/100
View unscored companies
Hide unscored companies

Companies in this list have disclosure available in a language other than English. As WBA only assesses English-language disclosure, they have not been scored.

-
Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos
Not Scored
-
Bangladesh Road Transport Corp
Not Scored
-
CFE
Not Scored
-
China Fortune Land Development
Not Scored
-
China Southern Power Grid
Not Scored
-
Egyptian Electricity Holding Company
Not Scored
-
EMT Madrid
Not Scored
-
Even Construtora
Not Scored
-
Greenland Holdings
Not Scored
-
Interaseo
Not Scored
-
MetrôRio
Not Scored
-
Mosvodokanal
Not Scored
-
Promotora Ambiental
Not Scored
-
Saigon Water Corporation
Not Scored
-
Sao Paulo Metro
Not Scored
-
Shanghai Construction Group
Not Scored
-
Shanghai Metro
Not Scored
-
Shenzhen Metro Group
Not Scored
-
SUBUS
Not Scored
-
Tianjin Rail Transit Group
Not Scored
-
Transmilenio
Not Scored
-
Wanda Group
Not Scored

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Measurement areas of Urban Benchmark
Sustainable governance
17%

This measurement area focuses on whether sustainability is integrated into the company’s core governance framework: from identifying material impacts to setting targets and ensuring board-level responsibility. It highlights the role of leadership, strategy, and accountability mechanisms in driving credible progress from the top.

Indicators for this measurement area
01
Impact materiality and sustainability strategy The company transparently identifies and prioritises its material sustainability impacts and has a sustainability strategy addressing these impacts.
02
Sustainability targets and plans The company uses targets and plans to drive measurable improvements in sustainability performance across its operations and value chain.
03
Accountability for sustainability performance The company assigns responsibility for its sustainability performance to its highest governance body and links accountability for target fulfilment to remuneration policies.
04
Local government partnership The company assigns responsibility for its sustainability performance to its highest governance body and links accountability for target fulfilment to remuneration policies.
05
Participation and stakeholder engagement The company contributes to the development of people-centred urban environments by establishing transparent and inclusive participation processes.
Inclusive cities
23%

This measurement area benchmarks companies' contribution to creating urban environments where everyone can thrive. It assesses whether companies ensure their services and developments are adequate, affordable, and accessible to all, while supporting local economic opportunities and respecting land rights and cultural heritage of communities.

Indicators for this measurement area
01
Adequacy The company contributes to the adequacy of housing, transport and/or basic services in urban areas.
02
Affordability The company contributes to the affordability of housing, transport and/or basic services in urban areas.
03
Universal accessibility The company contributes to the universal accessibility of buildings, transport stations, services and information.
04
Resilient employment The company ensures the continued relevance and employment of its workers.
05
Contribution to local economy The company contributes to the development of the local economy.
06
Security of tenure, land and property rights The company commits to promoting security of tenure for all, paying particular attention to vulnerable tenure rights holders.
07
Cultural heritage and preservation of community development character The company commits to preserving the character of cities, particularly cultural heritage.
Healthy cities
20%

This measurement area benchmarks companies' contribution to urban environments that support human health and wellbeing. It evaluates how companies minimize their environmental impacts through water use, waste and reductions in air and noise pollution, while also promoting access to open spaces and enabling active mobility to enhance the quality of life for urban residents.

Indicators for this measurement area
01
Public open spaces (real estate & utilities) The company contributes to creating high-quality open spaces.
02
Noise pollution (transport & construction) The company reduces its noise pollution and vibration.
03
Air pollution The company reduces its production of air pollutants.
04
Water use The company reduces its water use.
05
Water pollution The company reduces its water pollution.
06
Waste minimisation The company reduces its production of waste.
07
Active mobility and commuting behaviour The company promotes active and public forms of transport among its employees.
Climate neutral and resilient Cities
20%

This measurement area benchmarks companies' contribution to building urban futures that are both low-carbon and climate-resilient. It assesses how companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy efficiency, protect natural ecosystems, and strengthen urban resilience against natural disasters and impacts.

Indicators for this measurement area
01
Greenhouse gas emissions The company reduces its scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with a 1.5°C pathway.
02
Energy transition The company demonstrates a transition towards more sustainable and resilient energy use.
03
Natural ecosystem impact The company minimises its footprint across all relevant ecosystems.
04
Natural disaster risk reduction The company contributes to reducing risks related to natural disasters.
05
Emergency response and recovery measures The company implements measures to enhance the effectiveness of its responses to disasters and its capacity to recover, rehabilitate and restore services following a disaster.
06
Climate adaptation The company enhances resilience of built environments against climate impacts to ensure long-term sustainability.
Core social indicators
20%

This measurement area captures the foundations of responsible business: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting with integrity. Companies achieving strong performance here demonstrate that social responsibility is integral to their business model.

Indicators for this measurement area
01
Commitment to respect human rights The company publicly commits to respecting all internationally recognised human rights across its activities.
02
Commitment to respect the human rights of workers The company publicly commits to respect the principles concerning fundamental rights at work in the 11 ILO core conventions as set out in the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. It also has a publicly available statement of policy committing it to respect the human rights of workers in its business relationships.
03
Commitment to remedy The company publicly commits to provide or cooperate in remediation for affected individuals, workers and communities through legitimate processes (including judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, as appropriate), where it identifies that it has caused or contributed to adverse impacts.
04
Identifying human rights risks and impacts The company proactively identifies its human rights risks and impacts on an on-going basis. This includes engaging with stakeholders and vulnerable groups as part of the identification process.
05
Assessing human rights risks and impacts Having identified its human rights risks and impacts, the company assesses them and then prioritises its salient human rights risks and impacts. This includes engaging with stakeholders and vulnerable groups as part of the assessment process.
06
Integrating and acting on human rights risk and impact assessments The company integrates the findings of its assessments of human rights risks and impacts into relevant internal functions and processes in order to take appropriate actions to prevent, mitigate or remediate its salient human rights risks and impacts. This includes engaging with stakeholders and vulnerable groups on any action taken or to be taken.
07
Grievance mechanisms for workers The company has one or more mechanisms (its own, third party or shared) through which workers can raise complaints or concerns, including in relation to human rights issues. The mechanism(s) is available to all workers and takes into account accessibility by marginalised groups.
08
Grievance mechanisms for external individuals and communities The company has one or more mechanisms (its own, third party or shared) through which individuals and communities who may be adversely impacted by the company can raise complaints or concerns, including in relation to human rights issues.
09
Health and safety fundamentals The company publicly discloses relevant data on health and safety for its workers and monitors the health and safety performance of its business relationships.
10
Living wage fundamentals The company is committed to paying its workers a living wage and supports the payment of a living wage by its business relationships.
11
Working hours fundamentals The company respects applicable international standards concerning maximum working hours and minimum breaks and rest periods.
12
Collective bargaining fundamentals The company discloses information about collective bargaining agreements covering its workforce and its approach to supporting the practices of its business relationships in relation to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
13
Workforce diversity disclosure fundamentals The company discloses the percentage of employees for each employee category by at least three indicators of diversity.
14
Gender equality and women’s empowerment fundamentals The company publicly commits to gender equality and women’s empowerment and discloses quantitative information on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
15
Personal data protection fundamentals The company publicly commits to protecting personal data and has a global approach to data privacy.
16
Responsible tax fundamentals The company has a public global tax approach and discloses its corporate income tax payments on a country-by-country basis.
17
Anti-bribery and anti-corruption fundamentals The company publicly prohibits bribery and corruption and takes steps to identify and address bribery and corruption risks and incidents.
18
Responsible lobbying and political engagement fundamentals The company discloses its approach to lobbying and political engagement and its political expenditure.

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