Proximity-based cities emit less mobility-driven CO2

Abstract

In the pursuit of more environmentally sustainable urban areas, the 15-minute city model promotes active mobility by ensuring that essential services are reachable within a short walk or bike ride from home. Yet, its actual effectiveness in reducing car use and related carbon emissions remains debated. This study presents a large-scale data-driven analysis to evaluate the impact of service proximity to homes on CO 2 emissions. Examining nearly 400 cities worldwide, we find that, within the same city, areas where services are located closer to residents produce less CO 2 emissions per capita from transportation. We establish a relationship between the proximity of services and CO 2 emissions for each city. We then estimate potential emission reductions for 30 cities by optimising service locations to achieve more uniform accessibility and stronger adherence to the 15-minute paradigm. Our findings indicate that improving the proximity of services can substantially reduce transport-related urban emissions.

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