A concept for building sustainable cities, popularized in Europe as the 15-minute city, is facing distortion and misrepresentation from far-right politicians and groups, turning it into a contentious issue in the Republican race for president. The 15-minute city idea promotes urban development where essential amenities like grocery stores, schools, and hospitals are within walking or biking distance to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Conservative opponents of sustainability have targeted the concept, fueling conspiratorial accusations in far-right media, branding efforts to reduce car traffic in cities as oppressive government control. This distortion has even seeped into the campaigns of prominent figures like former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, with each accusing the other of supporting housing proposals resembling 15-minute cities.
Named after the time required to reach amenities on foot or by bike, the concept has garnered support from politicians and city leaders as a means to combat vehicle pollution and congestion. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, for example, embraced the idea and successfully incorporated it into her reelection campaign in 2020.
Critics of the policy argue that reshaping cities to discourage driving infringes on personal freedom and complicates commuting and parking, especially for delivery drivers and construction vehicles. However, in recent months, detractors have twisted the concept, leading to far-right media outlets like Fox News featuring opponents claiming that 15-minute cities will create restricted sectors, closely monitored by the government, from which people won't be allowed to leave.
Prominent figures such as Marc Morano, known for operating a climate denial blog, have further propagated disinformation about the concept. In response to Trump's plan to build "Freedom Cities" with single-family homes and flying cars, DeSantis's campaign labeled it "Soviet dystopian" and associated it with the World Economic Forum's promotion of sustainable cities.
While opponents have tried to frame the 15-minute city concept as a tool for oppressive government control, its original developer, Carlos Moreno of the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, emphasizes that its primary goal is to reduce residents' reliance on cars or mass transit. Moreno describes it as a model focusing on neighborhood scale to enhance city life and promote reduced transit time and greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas.
Despite the concept's positive intentions, far-right politicians and their allies have propagated conspiracy theories related to "climate lockdowns" and the "Great Reset." These baseless claims allege that governments and the World Economic Forum will use emissions reduction policies to curtail personal freedoms, restrict car usage, and promote unconventional food sources like insects.
The spread of such disinformation aligns with the larger disinformation economy surrounding climate change, where falsehoods find traction among specific audiences through industry groups and right-wing media outlets. Misinformation about the 15-minute city concept started on far-right blogs, eventually reaching major media platforms, and even influencing discussions at conservative gatherings like CPAC.
This distortion presents a concerning obstacle for sustainable urban planning, with the potential to stall essential green policies. The fear of conspiracy theories derailing green initiatives raises concerns for the future adaptation of cities and lifestyles in the face of climate change. As the GOP presidential race heats up, the manipulation of the 15-minute city concept by far-right politicians and groups continues to raise questions about how to effectively address the urgent challenges of climate change and sustainable urban development.
