ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we explore the role of global cities within the global governance architecture with regards to the implementation of the SDGs in GCC countries. We provide a case study of Abu Dhabi by applying the Sustainability-Oriented Innovation Index for Airports© in relation to the international airport’s capacity to align sustainability strategies through lenses of environmental, social, and technological innovation. Our aim is to demonstrate how the collaborative responsiveness, reflexivity, and adaptability of a city and its respective airport creates legitimacy and solidifies the role of cities as a main actor for the implementation of the SDGs.
