Carlos Moreno, the professor behind the '15 Minute City' urban planning concept, is struggling with conspiracy theories, online harassments and death threats.

The 15 Minute City builds on decades of academic research and thinking and is a new narrative to think about the land use and mobility systems of our cities. It offers the idea to refocus our thinking about our cities on four principles. First ecology: for a green and sustainable city. Second, proximity: to live with reduced distance to other activities. Third, solidarity: to create links between people. Finally, participation should actively involve citizens in the transformation of their neighbourhood. In short: slow things down to focus again on the quality of neighbourhoods.

The 15 Minute city is catching on because it helps cities to confront many of the challenges they face with unsustainable transport, use of public space, physical- and mental health, liveability and economic goals. 

But this is also why it attracts so much negativity. It confronts cities and people with the problems that have arisen with the ways we have been dealing with mobility in the past decades. For those for whom this worked well, this feels as a loss. Or even as a frontal attack on their lifestyle. This makes it vulnerable to become part of conspiracy theories.

This tension is a normal part of any transition, any transformative change. Where people win and people lose. Where the balances between different rights and privileges are being discussed. 

But this can NEVER be a reason to attack or threaten academic thinkers (or anybody really). This is UNACCEPTABLE. Academics should always be free and feel safe to think about fundamental questions and open up new directions of thinking. The debate about if and how they should be applied can be heavily contested, but that belongs in the political and public debates.

By signing this petition, you (1) voice your support for professor Carlos Moreno, (2) condemn anybody who threatens or attacks him or any other academic, and (3) express your support for a democratic, respectful debate around the 15-minute city concept.  

If you can and want, please sign with your (academic) credentials.