15-minute cities and personal consumption reduction targets

While not discussed on mainstream news, 15-minute cities have become a major discussion point and concern within alternative media.

What is a 15-minute city?

‘The climate crisis and global COVID-19 pandemic combined to accelerate consideration and implementation of the 15-minute city.

In July 2020, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group published a framework for cities to "build back better" using the 15-minute concept.’

— 15-minute city, Wikipedia

Please see my previous article regarding the origin of 15-minute cities and their overarching Totalitarian philosophy.

15-minute cities and what you should know, now!

Within the Agenda 2030 framework, there is an initiative to reduce personal consumption through utilitarian targets.

• Goal 12.
  Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Organizations within the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group have specified possible consumption reduction targets in detailed reports.

The research sets out science-based targets for cities for GHG emissions reduction that are consistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement ambitions, and identifies key previously untapped opportunities for cities to address the impact of urban consumption whilst delivering multiple other benefits for their citizens. It also maps how urban stakeholders can work together to deliver these changes. 

The Future of Urban Consumption in a 1.5C World has been co-created and co-delivered by C40, Arup and University of Leeds with funding from Arup, University of Leeds and Citi Foundation. 

— The Future of Urban Consumption in a 1.5°C World

This is a link to their report.

Below is a summary of “ambitious” 2030 targets from the report for those living in these so-called futuristic 15-minute cities.

Section 6.3 Buildings and infrastructure

Table 2 Consumption interventions for buildings and infrastructure and associated targets.

Column Ambitious Target in 2030:

1. Reduction in steel and cement use of 35% and 56% respectively.

2. 20% reduction in demand for new buildings.

3. 90% of residential and 70% of commercial are timber buildings.

4. 61% of cement replaced with low-carbon alternatives.

5. 22% reduction in virgin metal and petrochemical-based material.

Section 6.4 Food

Table 3 Consumption interventions for food and associated targets.

Column Ambitious Target in 2030:

1. 0 kg meat consumption.

2. 0 kg dairy consumption (milk or derivative equivalent) per person per year.

3. 2,500 cal per person per day.

4. 0% household food waste.

5. 75% reduction in supply chain food waste.

Section 6.5 Clothing and textiles

Table 4 Consumption interventions for clothing and textiles and associated targets.

Column Ambitious Target in 2030:

1. 3 new clothing items per person per year.

2. 75% reduction in supply chain waste.

Section 6.6 Private transport

Table 5 Consumption interventions for private transport and associated targets.

Column Ambitious Target in 2030:

1. 0 private vehicles.

2. 50-year lifetime for body of vehicle (shell & interior).

3. 50% reduction in use of metal and plastic materials.

Section 6.7 Aviation

Table 6 Consumption interventions for aviation and associated targets.

Column Ambitious Target in 2030:

1. 1 short-haul return flight (less than 1500 km) every 3 years per person.

2. 100% sustainable aviation fuel adopted (or other equivalent low carbon technology or fuel).

Section 6.8 Electronics and household appliances

Table 7 Consumption intervention for electronics and household appliances and associated target.

Column Ambitious Target in 2030:

1. 7-year optimum lifetime of laptops and similar electronic devices.

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Who is implementing this?

Section 8 Delivery of consumption interventions

1. City government.

2. Urban residents.

3. Business.

4. Civil society groups.

5. National government.

The Future of Urban Consumption in a 1.5°C World page 109

Cities can work together with individuals, business and other levels of government to achieve dietary change.

Concluding remarks

This framework treats you like livestock that must be measurably monitored and controlled. Does this look like a world you or your descendants should live in?

• 0 kg meat consumption.

• 0 private vehicles.

• 3 new clothing items per person per year.

• 1 short-haul return flight (less than 1500 km) every 3 years per person.

These centralized top-down systems do not work. It is high-tech communism that will produce the opposite of each stated goal.

You will have:

1. Poor building and crumbling infrastructure.

2. Inadequate low nutrition food.

3. No private transportation or ability to freely move.

4. Old worn out clothing.

5. Highly restricted access to aviation.

6. Approved and controlled electronic surveillance devices.

No one is coming to save us.

In Canada there is an existing Smart Cities Challenge with a large list of applicants. These are evaluation phases — this is closer to home than you may think.

These are their plans.
What are yours?