Climate Change and Proximity. The 15-min City: A New Paradigm

The increasing speed of urbanization, the current climate crisis and the COVID-19 global pandemic have accelerated the consideration and implementation of new paradigms in city-making. One of the most interesting new models is the “15-Minute City.” an urban concept in which residents can fulfill six essential functions within a 15- 20-minute walk or bike from their dwellings: living, working, commerce, healthcare, education, and entertainment. 

Carlos Moreno, the scientist behind this concept, will discuss how the development of this model is very likely to reduce energy consumption and multiply emission reductions, which is an important cascade effect. This model and the ongoing research are a clear reflection of how cities are key for livable, sustainable and more equitable societies. 

Carlos Moreno is a Franco-Colombian scientist, entrepreneur, and university professor, specializing in the practical application of systems thinking in urban environments. He is scientific director of the ETI Chair “Entrepreneurship-Territory-Innovation” and Associate Professor at the IAE Paris- Panthéon Sorbonne University, France. 

Carlos Moreno first proposed the 15-city model in 2016. The model has been adopted by several cities around the world, most notably in Paris where mayor Anne Hidalgo collaborated with Carlos Moreno and made it part of her re-election campaign in 2020. In 2020, C40 Cities promoted the 15-minute city idea as a blueprint for post-Covid-19 recovery. 

In 2021, Moreno was awarded Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour by the French Republic. In 2019, he received the Foseight Medal by the French Academy of Architecture. In 2021, he was awarded the Obel Prize. 

Organized by: IE School of Architecture and Design