The“15-Minute City” Controversy
In
essence, the 15-Minute City revolves around four fundamental elements:
proximity, density, mixed use, and ubiquity.
Moreno,
C. (2024). The 15-minute city: A solution to saving our time & our planet.
Wiley.Sources:https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+15-Minute+City%3A+A+Solution+to+Saving+Our+Time+and+Our+Planet-p-9781394228140https://www.moreno-web.net/new-book-the-15-minute-city-a-solution-to-saving-our-time-and-our-planet/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2024/apr/06/why-has-15-minute-city-taken-off-paris-toxic-idea-uk-carlos-morenohttps://www.theb1m.com/video/15-minute-cities-explainedhttps://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/15-minute-cities-Debunking-the-myths?language=en_USIn
2015, Carlos Moreno of Sorbonne University introduced the concept of the
15-minute city at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in
Paris. This concept gained support and implementation in cities like Paris, but
faced criticism and attacks from opponents of car restrictions and far-right
conspiracy theorists. Recently, Moreno published "The 15-Minute City: A
solution to saving our time & our planet," detailing the origins, theoretical
foundations, development process, and practical experiences in major cities
across continents.The Genesis of the 15-Minute City: Addressing Global Climate
Change and Health CrisisCarlos
Moreno proposed the concept of the 15-minute city in direct response to the
global climate crisis, particularly following COP21 held in Paris in December
2015. The COP21 agreement acknowledged the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and enhance society's resilience to the impacts of climate change. Its
central objective is to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2
degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts continuing to limit
the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.Against
the backdrop of the global health crisis represented by the COVID-19 pandemic,
the concept of the 15-minute city emerged as a proposal to reconfigure urban
spaces by promoting hyper-proximity to improve quality of life. It is a
response to the dual crises of climate change and health, advocating for an urban
lifestyle that minimizes environmental impact by significantly reducing car
travel, while providing residents with opportunities to meet their basic daily
needs close to home.By
encouraging active modes of transport such as walking and cycling, the 15-minute
city aims to reduce dependence on private cars, which are major contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions. It promotes the use of efficient and affordable
public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and associated pollutant
emissions.Furthermore,
the 15-minute city promotes the transition to cleaner, renewable energy
sources. This includes encouraging the use of electric or hydrogen-powered
public transport, as well as deploying sustainable energy systems to power
buildings and infrastructure.What is a 15-Minute City?The
15-minute city represents a urban planning concept and development model where
residents in high-density areas can access various daily necessities within a
15-minute walk or bike ride. Similarly, the 30-minute territory extends this
spatial concept slightly further, accommodating areas with lower population
density.An
illustration of the things a resident should be able to achieve within 15
minutes of their home under Moreno’s visionThe
15-Minute City aims to integrate living, working, education, leisure, services,
and nature more closely together within high-density urban areas, reducing
dependence on motorized transportation, lowering air pollution, promoting
community interaction and cohesion, and enhancing urban quality of life.The
concept encourages soft and sustainable modes of transportation by shortening
distances, improving infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and
strengthening public transportation. This encourages residents to choose more
environmentally friendly travel options, reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
traffic congestion, and associated health issues from air pollution. It aims to
protect the environment, alleviate pressure on natural resources, and promote
more efficient use of urban space. The 15-Minute City also aims to improve
quality of life, strengthen social cohesion, and encourage community
development. It serves as a micro and meso-level solution to address the macro
challenges posed by climate change, building more sustainable, livable, and
resilient cities.Key
principles of the 15-Minute City include:Promoting
functional diversity and mixed uses within neighborhoods, integrating mixed
housing, commercial spaces, offices, green areas, and services to reduce
commuting distances and enhance daily convenience.Encouraging
compact and intensive use of space to avoid urban sprawl and preserve
surrounding agricultural and natural areas.Emphasizing
spatial proximity, community, and sustainable development.The Core Concept of the 15-Minute City: ProximityProximity
becomes a powerful lever for redefining our relationship with the city, our
communities, and ourselves. It is the pursuit of a life anchored in the
present, where we actively strive to create environments conducive to personal
and collective fulfillment. This quest for proximity transcends geographical
and cultural boundaries. Whether in the bustling megacities of Asia, the
historic districts of European cities, the rural communities of South America,
or the traditional villages of Africa, people are seeking to forge closer
connections with their immediate surroundings. They aspire to a life where
distances are reduced, exchanges are facilitated, and community is valued.The
pursuit of proximity prompts us to rethink our choices and priorities to
promote a more balanced and satisfying life, where time can be devoted to
meaningful activities, relaxation, creativity, and well-being.The
COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a global rediscovery of proximity, reinforcing
the idea that essential services and resources should be accessible within
short distances through active modes of transportation such as walking or
cycling. Many cities have begun to reconsider their urban planning and have
taken specific measures to promote this proximity revolution. Initiatives
include creating and expanding bike lanes, extending restaurant terraces to
allow for social distancing, and launching community greening initiatives.The
15-Minute City emerges as a key concept, offering a vision for urban
reconfiguration based on hyper-proximity, low-carbon travel, and enhanced
quality of life.Creating a City of Proximity: Transitioning towards
Polycentric ProximityThe
15-Minute City represents a paradigm shift in urban thinking and planning aimed
at reimagining lifestyles and reconsidering our relationship with space and
time. No longer adhering to rigid models of zoning and functional separation,
we are exploring the possibilities of proximity, versatility, mixed-use, and
changing rhythms.The
15-Minute City introduces a new urban ontology, realizing six essential urban
social functions based on low-carbon proximity: living with dignity, reducing
commuting while obtaining supplies via short supply chains, maintaining
physical and mental health in the vicinity, accessing education and cultural
activities nearby, and flourishing in harmony and resilience with nature.In
essence, the 15-Minute City revolves around four fundamental elements: proximity,
density, mixed use, and ubiquity.Urban
ontology of the 15-minute cityThe Principles of Building 15-Minute Cities Are Not NewTowns
and cities built before the advent of cars were effectively 15-minute cities,
although some were planned while most were not. Dense, mixed-use neighborhoods
provided convenient facilities and services for nearby residents, a norm in
urban construction and development.It
wasn't until the early 20th century that modern urban planning paradigms
centered around cars began to dominate, advocated by urban thinkers like Le
Corbusier. These planning models emphasized order, rationality, and functional
zoning, dividing cities into distinct zones such as industrial, financial,
residential, and cultural areas. They enforced separation between where people
lived and where they worked, shopped, or socialized, creating cities oriented
around cars with highways connecting different zones. This led to car
dependency, traffic congestion, air pollution, long commute times, isolation,
and inconvenience for non-drivers, among other issues. Urban traffic
infrastructure centered on cars led many cities to demolish productive streets
and mixed-use communities to expand roads, highways, and parking lots, making
walking and cycling hazardous. Once-thriving communities, commercial streets,
and shops declined as cities prioritized car speed over street experience.Since
the 1960s, Jane Jacobs called for a more human-centered approach to urban
development, promoting mixed-use, high density, walkability, and creating
places where people want to shop, linger, and spend time, reducing the priority
of cars to create safer, more pleasant public spaces and street environments,
providing more space for alternative transportation and other vibrant street
uses.Therefore,
the principles of building 15-minute cities are not new; what's new is the term
"15-minute city."Today,
the "15-minute city" has become a widely used term encompassing
various similar urban strategies. It was a key concept in Paris Mayor Anne
Hidalgo's successful re-election campaign in 2020. 15-minute cities take
various forms and names worldwide, such as “complete neighbourhoods”,”20-minute
neighbourhoods”, and “a city of close proximities”.Strategies
aligned with the principles of the 15-minute city are implemented in cities of
drastically different spatial forms—from sprawling, low-density, high-income
cities like Houston, Vancouver, and Melbourne, to semi-dense, medium-income
cities like Bogotá, to densely populated European cities like Barcelona and
Paris, and cities in China. The 15-minute city demonstrates flexible
applicability across diverse urban contexts.Controversies Surrounding the 15-Minute CitySince
2022, conspiracy theories about the "15-minute city" have surfaced
online, across social networks, and in some media outlets. These theories often
conflate the concept with denial of the climate emergency, the COVID-19
pandemic, and the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. These conspiracy theories
have sparked street protests in some cities, particularly in the UK, including
London, Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, Canterbury, and Sheffield.Some
online forums claim that the 15-minute city represents the first step toward a
dystopian society akin to the Hunger Games, where residents are not allowed to
leave their designated areas. They do not see it as a path toward a
low-traffic, low-carbon future but rather as a slippery slope toward living in
an open-air prison.A
protester at a demonstration against 15-minute cities, London, 10 December 2022The
proponent of the 15-minute city concept, Moreno, has even received death
threats, necessitating police protection for his personal safety during visits
to Argentina.In
response to public misunderstandings and misconceptions, especially from
right-wing individuals, about the 15-minute city, the practicing organizations
attempt to debunk the myths:First,
the 15-minute city does not ban cars.The
"15-minute city" merely seeks to reduce dependence on cars; it does
not advocate for a complete ban on cars. Roads will still exist, and you can
still drive your car.Some
urban development projects may choose to pedestrianize certain areas or create
low-traffic neighborhoods—this is not a new initiative and has been implemented
for decades. Similar to pedestrian zones in almost any village, town, or city,
access will be maintained for deliveries, disabled individuals, emergency
services, special events, and more.Paris
Mayor Anne Hildago's plans for the city include reducing the number of car
lanes on the Champs-Élysées, but not banning cars entirely.Second,
human mobility is not restricted; the 15-minute concept does not prevent anyone
from leaving their community.The
15-minute city is not a physically enclosed space, and there are no
restrictions on entering or leaving. It provides local residents with
convenient facilities they want and need, but it does not mandate their use.
Residents who wish to travel longer distances by car or other means are free to
do so for any reason. Travel is a choice, not a requirement. The 15-minute city
aims to reduce the time wasted on essential services like grocery shopping,
schooling, leisure, and healthcare facilities, offering more choices on how and
where to spend time.The
strategy of the 15-minute city also makes walking, cycling, and public
transport more convenient, providing more options for how we move around urban
areas.Of
course, the 15-minute city is not beyond criticism and has its drawbacks.
However, threats to personal rights from travel permits are not part of it.
1.“Over
the great bridge, with the sunlight through the girders making a constant
flicker upon the moving cars, with the city rising up across the river in white
heaps and sugar lumps all built with a wish out of non-olfactory money. The
city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first
time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” ―F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby![]()
2.“I saw
my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the
tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and
winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig
was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig
was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South
America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of
other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an
Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs
I couldn't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree,
starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I
would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant
losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to
wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
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