*This blog was written by Ko-Yun Lai

People are the heart of our cities. Creating truly sustainable communities means placing people at the center of local government decisions. That is why equity must be a core principle of local action. Equity is about fairness: It recognizes that each person starts from a different place and has unique experiences, and it ensures everyone receives the support they need to fully participate in society.

Equity does not exist in isolation. It is shaped by local conditions and is deeply influenced by the unique challenges of each community. This makes advancing equity a complex undertaking: Local governments must identify the challenges their residents face, and work with the data that is available, even when it is imperfect.

The Malmö Commitment on Inclusive and Equitable Communities supports cities and regions in embedding social equity at the core of their local sustainable development efforts. Participating governments identify the sustainability challenges most pressing to their communities, and jointly explore how developing clear, context-specific equity indicators helps to integrate equity into policy-making and implementation.

Why equity monitoring matters

Monitoring equity turns good intentions into action. Identifying equity challenges creates better opportunities to build communities where benefits and burdens are fairly shared. Indicators that reflect geographic, social, and economic realities highlight where injustices exist so local governments can focus their efforts effectively.

The sections below outline five key considerations for local and regional governments and stakeholders to monitor equity in their communities. Each element offers guidance and examples to help capture the complexities of equity in local contexts.

1. Identifying contextual challenges

The first and initial consideration for monitoring equity is understanding the unique challenges that shape inequities in your community. This means looking at the local context and clarifying which thematic areas are most relevant. It is also important to consider local policy goals when identifying these challenges, so that equity efforts align with the broader development agenda.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the local government has institutionalized the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of its planning and monitoring framework, beginning with a detailed analysis of the city’s specific inequalities and priorities. Through its Voluntary Local Reviews and associated indicator systems, Buenos Aires first identifies which disparities, such as health, gender equality, decent work, climate resilience and urban inclusion, are most pressing in the local context and then aligns these with relevant SDG targets. This approach grounds equity monitoring in local challenges and ensures that equity efforts are connected to broader development objectives.

While each community will have its own priorities, some common areas to consider, informed by Malmö Commitment members and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, include:

• Inclusive built environment and infrastructure: Housing affordability, land-use patterns, access to public spaces, as well as mobility and transportation options.
• Robust environmental systems and climate resilience: Access to nature and energy, socially just climate action and financing, and equitable waste management.
• Social well-being and just transition: Food access, public health, education, and opportunities in careers and the local economy.

These themes provide a starting point, but local challenges may extend beyond this list. The goal is to identify the issues that most strongly influence who benefits and who faces barriers in your community.

2. Select appropriate indicators

Once local challenges are identified, the next step is to select indicators that capture these issues. It helps to consider ongoing initiatives and available data. For each indicator, include a clear definition that reflects the local context and communicates its purpose. Co-creating indicators with the community can make them more relevant and inclusive, while considering intersecting forms of disadvantage ensures equity is addressed in a holistic way.

The City of Santa Fe, USA, provides a useful example with the Santa Fe Forward initiative. It outlines a shared vision and roadmap to 2050 and offers multiple ways for the public to stay involved, from interactive maps and workshops to quick online polls and email feedback.

It is also important not to confuse sustainability indicators with equity indicators. For example, green job employment is often measured as the proportion of local workers in green jobs. While related to sustainable development, promoting equity may require focusing on access to these opportunities for underrepresented groups rather than the overall growth in green jobs.

3. Consider target groups

Equity measurement starts with understanding who is affected and where they live. Disaggregating data by population segment or by priority districts allows local governments to see which groups face systemic barriers and which areas experience disparities. This approach helps to capture the equity relevance of local conditions, such as tree canopy cover, access to green space, or proximity to essential services, while reflecting the community’s unique context. Key aspects to consider include:

• Population segments: Social determinants that may lead to systemic disadvantage include demographics such as gender, race, age, ability, or sexual orientation, historical and structural factors like past mistreatment or institutional distrust, economic factors such as income, education, or employment, and cultural factors including ethnicity, religion, or language.
• Geographic relevance: Comparing specific neighborhoods or districts to city-wide averages helps to identify disparities and target interventions where they are most needed.

The City of Newcastle, Australia, illustrates this approach. By combining demographic analysis with community engagement, the city identified that people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander experience systemic disadvantage. This insight guided policies and programs that applied an intersectional lens and focused support on the areas most affected.

4. Assess data availability and feasibility

Quantifiable data is essential for tracking progress and adjusting actions to advance equity. Understanding what data is available helps to identify gaps and guide new collection efforts. Collaboration across departments is critical, with clear communication of equity goals to ensure relevant data is gathered and used effectively.

In Glasgow, UK, the Understanding Glasgow project includes a commitment to developing health and wellbeing indicators for the city. By producing accessible well-being data, it enables cross-departmental and cross-sectoral stakeholders to track progress with measurable indicators, while informing the public about cross-cutting issues in the city and encouraging broader civic engagement.

Inspired by the GARE Racial Equity Toolkit, relevant questions for assessing equity related data include: 

• What data already exist, and what new data is needed?
• Where are the gaps in available information?
• How will the data improve understanding of equity challenges?
• What are feasible ways to collect the data?
• How often should the data be updated? How often is the data updated?

5. Reflect and Refine

Reflection is essential once indicators are selected and data are reviewed. It helps to assess whether the indicators truly capture underlying inequities and whether adjustments are needed. When new insights emerge, earlier assumptions may need to be revisited. Advancing equity is an iterative process that involves planning, implementation, monitoring, adaptation, and continuous learning.

The Climate Equity Plan in Austin, USA, offers a strong example on tracking progress towards the plan’s goals and an equitable net-zero transition. Based on input from city and community collaborators, its public dashboard provides up-to-date information on method and progress, and clearly outlines what has been achieved so far and what comes next. By linking indicators to concrete actions and timelines, the city creates transparency and accountability over time.

These five considerations provide a starting point for developing context-appropriate equity indicators. Rather than offering a fixed model, they invite local governments to reflect on how equity is defined, measured, and acted upon in their own communities. By revisiting these guidelines and working collaboratively, cities and regions can co-create equity indicators that are meaningful, practical, and support action on local challenges.

*About the author:

Ko-Yun Lai recently graduated with a Master’s in Sustainability Science, Policy and Society from Maastricht University, building on her professional experience in B2B business development in the software sector.