To what extent is sustainability addressed at urban scale and how aligned is it with Earth's productive capacity?

•Living within the Earth's productive capacity (EPC) represents the goal for sustainability.•EPC aligned tools and frameworks exist, but few policymakers use them as targets.•Single focus on carbon footprint underestimates the real impact of cities.•Identified leading cities’ reductions are too low and too narrow to meet EPC goal.•Transnational groups contribute to EPC achievement through holistic tools promotion.