Rethinking the green city: A multi-scalar and bibliometric investigation of urban sustainability through the case of Benguerir, Morocco

As cities worldwide pursue transitions toward sustainability, the concept of the « green city » has been promoted through certifications, eco-labels, and branding initiatives. Still, the potency of sustainable cities and their environmental, social, and economic impact remain arguable. This paper contributes to examining green city frameworks beyond their rhetoric by combining bibliometric analysis and a multi-scalar case study of the Green City in Benguerir, Morocco. In this respect, we conduct a bibliometric mapping of the scientific literature to identify the dominant frameworks and indicators, prevailing visions of sustainability, and research gaps - not only in urban sustainability assessment practices but also in the disconnect between theoretical frameworks and practice. This lack of symmetry increases as we examine urban projects through morphology, scale, and local implications. We conclude that, first, the certification systems in place do not adequately measure sustainability impacts, and second, that multi-scalar methods are important for meaningful evaluations of urban sustainability. This paper aims to help create locally relevant methods to assess sustainability, and foster collaborative ways for of appraising smart, resilient, and liveable cities across different scales and contexts.