Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts
The concept of the 15-minutes city [15 MC] focuses on providing important services within proximity and accessibility through active travel like walking or biking. While this model is becoming popular in urban planning and academic discourse, its implementation faces challenges in both densely popul...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/252 |
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| author | Asifa Iqbal Humaira Nazir Ammad Waheed Qazi |
| author_facet | Asifa Iqbal Humaira Nazir Ammad Waheed Qazi |
| author_sort | Asifa Iqbal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concept of the 15-minutes city [15 MC] focuses on providing important services within proximity and accessibility through active travel like walking or biking. While this model is becoming popular in urban planning and academic discourse, its implementation faces challenges in both densely populated developing and developed countries. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of recent literature to (1) identify the core components of the 15 MC model, (2) examine planning tools and strategies used in its implementation, (3) compare successes and challenges across global contexts, particularly in densely populated and resource-constrained areas, and (4) offer practical recommendations for adapting the model to meet local needs. The study reviewed 33 research papers published in the last five years [2019–2024]. Following PRISMA guidelines, a structured screening and selection process was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Thematic analysis revealed major challenges for implementing the 15 MC in the Global South, including urban informality, gaps in infrastructure, and complex governance issues. Moreover, the review points out the potential risks of exclusion and gentrification if the specific needs of different contexts are not considered. While high-income countries tend to focus on sustainability and making neighborhoods walkable, developing countries struggle with deeper structural problems that make equitable implementation harder. This study emphasizes the need for locally adaptive frameworks in planning 15 MCs and aims to develop inclusive urban policies that support Sustainable Development Goal 11, which seeks to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5bbd08497af4492787b71e16c5f0bcf1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-5bbd08497af4492787b71e16c5f0bcf12025-08-20T03:56:46ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-07-019725210.3390/urbansci9070252Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban ContextsAsifa Iqbal0Humaira Nazir1Ammad Waheed Qazi2Department of Computer and Geospatial Sciences, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, SwedenDepartment of Architecture and Environmental Design, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75300, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, PakistanThe concept of the 15-minutes city [15 MC] focuses on providing important services within proximity and accessibility through active travel like walking or biking. While this model is becoming popular in urban planning and academic discourse, its implementation faces challenges in both densely populated developing and developed countries. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of recent literature to (1) identify the core components of the 15 MC model, (2) examine planning tools and strategies used in its implementation, (3) compare successes and challenges across global contexts, particularly in densely populated and resource-constrained areas, and (4) offer practical recommendations for adapting the model to meet local needs. The study reviewed 33 research papers published in the last five years [2019–2024]. Following PRISMA guidelines, a structured screening and selection process was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Thematic analysis revealed major challenges for implementing the 15 MC in the Global South, including urban informality, gaps in infrastructure, and complex governance issues. Moreover, the review points out the potential risks of exclusion and gentrification if the specific needs of different contexts are not considered. While high-income countries tend to focus on sustainability and making neighborhoods walkable, developing countries struggle with deeper structural problems that make equitable implementation harder. This study emphasizes the need for locally adaptive frameworks in planning 15 MCs and aims to develop inclusive urban policies that support Sustainable Development Goal 11, which seeks to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/25215 MCproximitydensely populateddeveloping countries |
| spellingShingle | Asifa Iqbal Humaira Nazir Ammad Waheed Qazi Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts Urban Science 15 MC proximity densely populated developing countries |
| title | Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts |
| title_full | Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts |
| title_short | Exploring the 15-Minutes City Concept: Global Challenges and Opportunities in Diverse Urban Contexts |
| title_sort | exploring the 15 minutes city concept global challenges and opportunities in diverse urban contexts |
| topic | 15 MC proximity densely populated developing countries |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/252 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT asifaiqbal exploringthe15minutescityconceptglobalchallengesandopportunitiesindiverseurbancontexts AT humairanazir exploringthe15minutescityconceptglobalchallengesandopportunitiesindiverseurbancontexts AT ammadwaheedqazi exploringthe15minutescityconceptglobalchallengesandopportunitiesindiverseurbancontexts |