European Cities in Global Clusters: A 2-Sided View of Environmental and Economic Differences

In contemporary times, the economy and sustainability are deeply linked, serving as the foundational pillars that support the development and prosperity of settlements around the world. This paper explores their interdependence by investigating the formation and differentiation of global city clusters based on the Global Power City Index (GPCI) 2024 as a key analytical framework due to its multidimensional nature. Using Two-Steps cluster analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test, the study examines two perspectives, one centred on economic factors and the second focused on environmental factors. The results highlight the essential function of various GPCI pillars in defining urban groups, revealing the role of economic strength as a decisive differentiator for environmentally-defined clusters, while accessibility played the role of differentiator considering the economic perspective. The analysis continues by profiling the European cities landscape, with each city possessing unique features and with no single universal leader emerging. The findings provide valuable insights for city governments, enabling them to understand their position worldwide and consolidate their urban development strategies. Furthermore, it aids in developing public policies to increase investor appeal and assists tourism organisations in designing personalised campaigns.