The concept of a 15-minute city—walkable for efficiency, improved lifestyle, and a more sustainable community—will be tested in five global locations.
Key Details
- C40 Cities is a network of 100 mayors from around the world committed to climate change and sustainability in their cities. With help from Nordic Real Estate Partners (NREP), the group is planning to test a trendy environmental concept, 15-minute cities, in five global cities.
- In concept, 15-minute cities will create walkable neighborhoods within cities, decreasing dependency on vehicles and even public transportation.
- Through city planning and development, work, entertainment, schools, and parks will be a walk or bicycle ride away for residents.
- The cities selected for the project haven’t been announced, but they will feature both developing and already developed neighborhoods.
Why it’s news
By reducing dependence on vehicles, city dwellers can reduce reliance on automobiles—saving costs, congestion, and emissions.
NREP has pledged $500,000 to developing the neighborhoods over the next two years.
The neighborhoods will feature densely populated living spaces near work and entertainment. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that by relocating homes and employment closer to one another, providing good public transportation, and using land for multiple purposes, emissions can be reduced as much as 25%.
The idea for a 15-minute city isn’t exactly new, but it rose in popularity during the pandemic-related shutdowns. As more people tried not to venute too far from home during the pandemic, the need for grocery stores and other necessities close by became more obvious.
The effort will be one of the first coordinated attempts to establish 15-minute neighborhoods with the intent of creating a plan other cities can emulate.
Though the NREP and C40 Cities plan is the first coordinated effort, other plans to establish walkable cities are in place around the world. In the U.S., developers have laid out a plan for a walkable city in Utah.
“The Point ” is a master planned city between Salt Lake City and Provo. The planned community will have space for 7,400 residential units with the potential to provide 30,000 jobs, all within walking distance to schools, entertainment, restaurants, and work.
The development will be planned to accommodate some vehicles, but residents will mainly make use of walking and biking trails. The city would also have an extensive public transportation system to shuttle residents to further parts of the city.