2024 Winter Issue of Urban Land - 25

achieve carbon reduction and
net zero goals?
Anne Hidalgo: Indeed, this
idea of the 15-minute city
that was developed by Carlos
Moreno, and that has been
translated into urban policies
based on the idea that Paris
should be the best city, a city
to live in. A city that faces
great global challenges. But
this is a city with inhabitants
who seek, and deserve, to live
in the best environment, with
good public and private services,
access to culture, good
schools, and promenades and
parks close to their home.
This is an idea which, I believe,
allows us to combine both climate
and social challenges.
Some examples of what we
have done since 2020 are part
of this idea of being very committed
to the climate issue and
applying the 15-minute scheme
in order to improve people's
lives. For example, " Streets to
Schools, " because it matters,
too: How can children feel
better in the city, more secure?
How can parents let go of
their hands in the street? Well,
we have closed the streets
to cars near schools, planted
trees, opened spaces, and
today Parisians are asking me
to open many more " Streets to
Schools. "
Another example: We transformed
a very large building
that was a public office building
[belonging] to the city
of Paris, and we launched a
project in which private developers-and
also association
and social housing developers-responded.
And this place
is, today, near the Paris city
hall, [and] therefore on the
banks of the Seine. The buildParis
Mayor Anne Hidalgo promised to make the Seine
swimmable in time for the Olympic and Paralympic games
next year. " I promised them that, next July, I would also dive
into the Seine, " Hidalgo says.
ing is called [La Félicité Paris
Sully-Morland], and in this
building are [about 160] social
housing units for families who
live on the banks of the Seine,
at prices that allow them to
live in this type of housing. [It
also contains] some very, very
expensive accommodations for
people who will pay very, very
dearly for ... them. And then,
finally, a four- or five-star hotel,
and ... a youth hostel where
you can sleep for €29 a night,
and then shops, and then a
garden.
UL: From 2015 to 2019, you
served as chair of C40, and in
July this year you were elected
as vice chair of the steering
committee of C40, a global
network of nearly 100 mayors
of the world's leading cities
that are united to confront the
climate crisis. What are some
of the key initiatives that will
guide C40 over the next 5-10
years?
Anne Hidalgo: I learned a
lot within the C40, precisely
by interacting with my fellow
mayors .... And then, also the
chance to meet great personalities
like Mike Bloomberg, for
example, who also gave us the
means of investigative research
to support our municipal policies.
I think it's very important.
This network has taught me a
lot, and I, of course, continue
to work there.
The conviction and the facts
are there: Large cities are the
main emitters of greenhouse
gases. Seventy percent of
greenhouse gases are emitted
by the world's major cities. This
is where we must find solutions
to limit global warming.
We have the biggest impact
and therefore have the biggest
responsibility.
UL: Almost 10 years have
passed since the Paris Agreement
to fight against climate
change. Is the city on track to
meet the COP21 targets? Are
cities leading the way in the
fight against global warming?
Anne Hidalgo: Yes, but we
should not forget that C40
represents the 100 largest
metropolises in the world. And
75 percent of these cities are
almost 10 percent away from
[achieving] the COP21 objectives.
We have initiated policies,
everywhere in our cities,
concerning public transport
and the reduction of pollution,
the decarbonization of the
WINTER 202 4
URBAN LAND
25
BEST PRACTICES
GUILLAUME BONTEMPS
2024 Winter Issue of Urban Land

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