Want to know what a freer, more eco-friendly future could look like? Well, turns out we should be looking at Scotland. First came the plans to make Glasgow first feminist city and now the country has launched a pioneering initiative that could help it reach its ambitious net zero goals.
The basic idea is put walkable ‘20-minute cities’ at the heart of city planning. What that means is making sure basic services – shops, gyms, restaurants, schools – are all within walking distance, rather than a drive away. In other words, you’d never have to leave your neighbourhood.
Scottish planning minister Tom Arthur said the reforms, which were approved this week, would ‘prioritise tackling the climate crisis and reaching net zero’.
The new vision for city planning would also involve building fewer car parks, improving public transport and laying down more cycling lanes. A similar ‘15-minute city’ concept has already gained ground in other cities such as Paris and Melbourne.
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