How cities are turning the 15-minute city concept into reality

Link streaming Zoom


26th May 2023

Date: Friday, May 26 th – 17:00-18:00 CEST (TBC) / 8:00-9:00 (PT)
Audience: Participants of the Biennale of Public Space and technical staff in C40 and non-C40 cities part of the Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods Forum
Language: English with interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese.
Registration link


Over the past three years, C40 has been working closely with Prof. Carlos Moreno and other leading organisations to promote a neighbourhood approach to climate action.
Building on the concept and on C40’s long-lasting experience on near zero carbon districts, C40 launched the Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods programme which aims at turning the “15-minute city” concept into reality, considering the regional specificity and local urban context to support cities in the implementation of ambitious people-centred neighbourhood pilots. This session will bring together representatives from cities
with different urban contexts sharing current projects and best-practices which transform neighbourhoods into more equitable, vibrant and sustainable communities.

Introduction of the topic and the agenda (C40) – 5-10 minutes
Snapshots of three 15-minute city approaches in Europe – 20 minutes
This section entails a 5-minute presentation from each city representative with a few visuals (max 4 slides) to set the context for the discussion.

  • City of Madrid, 15-minute city analysis – Ramón González Fernández (online)
  • City of Sousse, 15-minute city planning document, PDUI – Manel Makhlouf (in person – TBC)
  • City of Milan, 15-minute project, Piazza Aperte – Demetrio Scopelliti (in person – TBC)
  • City of Portland, 20-minute neighbourhoods projects – Bill Cunningham
  • (online)

Discussion – 25 minutes
This section will build on the presentations of city representatives to explore the challenges and success of the projects, around general questions such as:

  • What are the benefits of a 15-minute city (or similar approaches) for
    residents, businesses, and the environment?
  • What are the main challenges you face when implementing a 15-minute
    city, and how do you overcome them?
  • How do you involve the community in the planning and implementation of
    a 15-minute city, and what strategies do you use to engage residents?
  • How do you see the 15-minute city concept (or similar approaches) spread
    holistically into the City’s projects in the future?

Conclusion and next steps (C40) – 5 minutes


*Participation pending confirmation
**Event with simultaneous interpretation

Follow us:
Facebook and Instagram