As the human population on Earth grows larger, so does the population living in urban areas—cities, metropolises, megacities, even. It is estimated that >4 billion people live in urban areas globally and even that number is on the rise. It is projected that by 2050, roughly 7 billion people will live in urban areas or about 68% percent of all humanity. This rise in urban life contributes to many issues that liberal and progressive leaders, advocates, and activists must address including increased rates of crime, warming temperatures and higher global warming effects, high homelessness, and increased socioeconomic stratification. Many solutions have been proposed and some have been implemented but in the following article I will examine a specific concept proposed over several years but most notably by a contributor to the idea, Professor Carlos Moreno of Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
The fact remains that (a) these levels of urbanization are a relatively new concept in the human timeline and that (b) urbanization threatens to worsen the effects of global warming. Before I continue my introduction and analysis of the “15-Minute City” and its benefits as seen under a liberal/progressive light, multiple terms must be defined for clarity’s sake as I cite topics that may be relatively new or unheard of by a reader. First and foremost, urbanization is the process in which an area becomes more urban; this process can often lead to the rapid and uncontrolled growth of city bounds, called urban sprawl. Urbanization can actually be a mechanism to worsen existing racial injustice in the form of environmental racism and other forms of institutional racism. Environmental racism is a relatively new term, only named in 1982 by Benjamin Chavis, an African-American civil rights leader; the premise of environmental racism is the notion that communities of color bear the burdens of environmentally unsustainable projects and feel the effects of climate change worse. In the United States, racist urban planning reduced greenspace in minority-majority areas and thus those areas experience warmer summers, poorer air quality, and more detrimental effects of the anthropogenic harms on the environment. As we examine this nascent urban planning model through a progressive lens, understanding the way climate change (and environmental racism especially), socioeconomic inequality, and urban sprawl can be combatted will prove key to determining whether this new model might be a solution to the issues humans have caused.”
The last definition needed is the one on which this article is based. As defined by Carlos Moreno, et al. In “Introducing the ‘15-Minute City’: Sustainability, Resilience and Place Identity in Future Post-Pandemic Cities”[1], a 15-minute city is an “urban set-up where locals are able to access all of their basic essentials at distances that would not take them more than 15 min by foot or by bicycle.” (Moreno, et al.). In essence, the 15-minute city (a) reduces time wasted on commuting, (b) lowers greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging pedestrian and bicycle traffic over cars, (c ) seeks to improve quality of life by connecting “living… working… commerce… healthcare… education and… entertainment” in a singular community. Moreno argues that cities incorporating a 15-minute framework should consider four dimensions that contribute to a healthy urban environment: density, proximity, diversity, and digitalization. Like any city, population density is key to sustainable urban planning by ensuring citizens don’t overwhelm community resources and utilities while also protecting the independent lifestyle of many urbanites. Proximity to aspects of social life is the ‘15-minute’ component of the model as primary nodes serve as anchors for planning such as distance from medical offices, markets, parks and recreation areas, schools, and workplaces; this requires cities to factor in all aspects of healthy living into the planning and development process. Diversity, Moreno explains, must exist both commercially (varying businesses and multiple economical niches) and culturally (mix of ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic groups). The last component of Moreno’s four dimensions is one fitting of the twenty-first century. Moreno, in keeping with the Smart City concept (an early basis for the 15-Minute City), presents digitalization as a way for cities to remain efficient and sustainable; he proposes processes like bike sharing (a system that exists in many cities already), cashless transactions, and virtual communication.
Now, how do we analyze this through a liberal and progressive lens? Progressivism is defined as seeking to advance the human condition through social reform. Social liberalism is defined as supporting social justice, expanding civil and political rights, building on the social market economy, and viewing the common good as compatible with individual freedom. While these are a lot of words, the core behind this ideology is ‘how can we, as changemakers (in the form of politicians, activists, advocates, and political agents), bring about justice to our communities in a way that respects the liberty of the individual?’. Empowered by this statement, we can begin a deeper analysis of the 15-Minute City concept and the ramifications it would have on urban societies.
The 15-Minute City, as with other compact urban models, promotes a more ecologically sustainable way of life. By placing major societal hubs within a brief walk or bike ride, the need for cars is reduced ergo the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides is as well. Increased walking paths will encourage more greenspace and green planning, with tree-lined sidewalks and aesthetic plant decor becoming a norm. Moreno also proposes water fountains and other ways for cities to provide cooling centers during the heat of summer. The 15-Minute City could rectify many of the wrongs of environmental racism, essentially combatting climate change and heat through a more livable and equitable urban design.
Social justice could also benefit from tenets of the 15-Minute City. A walkable city design focused on compact and diverse marketplaces provides a boost to local business while minimizing costs like advertising. Farmers markets hosted in city squares would support both local agribusiness as well as the health of city residents. The easy access to education by way of schools one can walk to ensures all younger residents can receive an education without worry of their parents or their jobs/schedules. Moreno even offers the idea of turning schools into community centers after-hours to provide event and meeting space, educational and recreational opportunities, and social gatherings. Multi-use buildings are core to the 15-Minute City concept due to the reduction of building space and the community-centered approach to living. The 15-Minute City proposal challenges previous approaches to community norms and culture, instead focusing on the collective good as benefitting individual citizens. The plan promotes a community-focused living style in which residential, commercial, work, health, education, and recreation are blended in a way that economically and socially supports citizens.
The last aspect of liberalism to be considered and applied to the 15-Minute City is the effect on individual liberty. The 15-Minute City model promotes digitalization, as I mentioned earlier. In his discussions on what a more digital city could mean, Professor Moreno suggests that cashless transactions, online local shopping, and remote work can build on the systems we used at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to give individuals more economic freedom.
A conspiracy theory propagated by conservatives and far-right theorists claims that the 15-Minute City design is a liberal attempt to imprison people or ban commute. However, the alternative is true. Rethinking the way we plan our cities can help humanity combat climate change and social injustice while improving living conditions and giving individuals greater liberty in their own lives, free from the metaphorical prison imposed by traffic gridlock, long commutes, and noisy streets. As we continue to move forward in this rapidly urbanizing 21st century, we need to adjust our understanding of urban theory and design to meet the changes of a new urban generation. Even if the 15-Minute City model is not adopted, a new approach to urban planning that supports green initiatives and community-centered projects could prove to be the solution to the problems posed by climate change and social inequity.