As the dust settles on the election, it’s clear that the Greens have suffered the traditional fate of junior coalition partners and been wiped out. The previous coalition managed to implement several impressive environmental policies, ranging from green public procurement and the deposit return scheme to a minister of state for circular economy.
Perhaps the biggest impact of the Greens in government will come from the extent to which green is the new normal. It seems unlikely that much of the progress on environmental issues will be rolled back by a new government, with many plans already under way at the local authority level.
In Dublin, for instance, moves toward the idea of the 15-minute city continue apace, despite the protests of some right-wing conspiracy theorists who have suggested that the concept will result in “digital gulags” as part of a wider governmental plan to restrict personal freedom.
Ironically, the idea behind the 15-minute city is not to prevent people from travelling outside of a 15-minute radius but instead to provide enough essential services, such as work, healthcare, education, shopping and entertainment, within that radius that the average citizen can access their typical needs without needing to leave it. Importantly, these must be accessible by active transport such as foot or bicycle and so are healthy and environmentally friendly by design.
This concept promotes sustainability, wellbeing and resilience while addressing many of the problems associated with urban sprawl, congestion and environmental degradation. Given Dublin’s ongoing challenges with sprawl, housing and congestion, the 15-minute city offers a compelling blueprint to transform the city into a more liveable, sustainable and equitable space.
The core principles are proximity (services and amenities within a 15-minute radius), diversity (a mix of residential, commercial and recreational spaces rather than single-use zoning), sustainability (prioritising active transportation), resilience (building self-sufficient local communities) and, crucially, quality of life.
The concept was popularised a decade ago by Carlos Moreno, a Colombian urban theorist working in France. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, had run on a platform of reclaiming the City of Light from traffic, mass tourism and property speculation and instead focusing on improving life for those who lived, worked and played there.
Hidalgo’s approach might seem hopelessly optimistic to those of jaded by planning hell, Nimbyism and a lack of ambition. But Parisians don’t just expect results from their government; they demand them. Hidalgo had a set of practical plans to improve quality of life, almost all of which were based on sustainability.
Car-parking spaces were removed from central Paris while the right bank of the Seine was closed to traffic and converted to a promenade lined with plants, activities and places to eat. An abiding memory of my first visit to Paris is a line of cars and vans pumping out diesel fumes, backed up behind a small car that had broken down on Rue de Rivoli.
Hidalgo banned private cars from the street and the formerly fume-clogged artery is now a relative oasis of calm dedicated to cyclists, pedestrians and the occasional bus.
Of course, any utopian project will run into the crushing reality of decades of embedded thinking and practice. The water quality of the Seine, though vastly improved, threatened some aquatic sections of this year’s Olympics. But Hidalgo has been a qualified success and, despite representing a historically unpopular Socialist party, successfully staked her re-election campaign on sustainability and quality-of-life improvements.
Other cities quickly took notice. Barcelona introduced a “Superblocks” initiative, clusters of the Catalan capital’s city blocks were combined into car-free zones, creating vibrant public spaces and prioritising pedestrians and cyclists. Local amenities are integrated into these zones, reducing the need for long commutes and enhancing community interaction. Melbourne’s “20-Minute Neighbourhoods” programme is a step toward the 15-minute city. Pilot projects focus on improving walkability and access to essential services in suburbs, promoting a balanced urban fabric across the city.
In Dublin, a long struggle with sprawl and low-density housing means the superblock concept that works with Barcelona’s dense and regular urban grid is unlikely to work in the short term. But a focus on the local could reinvigorate planning and quality of life.
With skyrocketing rents and house prices leaving many unable to afford homes near their workplaces or amenities. Single-use zoning exacerbates this issue, forcing people to live in suburbs far from essential services. Car dependency is deeply ingrained in Dublin’s culture due to inadequate public transport and fragmented cycling infrastructure. Congestion is a daily reality, particularly during peak hours, contributing to lost productivity and high emissions. Sprawl and car dependency contribute to high carbon emissions, undermining Ireland’s climate goals. Loss of green spaces and biodiversity is another consequence of uncontrolled growth.
Transforming Dublin into a 15-minute city will require significant investment in public transport, cycling infrastructure and housing. However, these costs can be offset by long-term savings in reduced congestion, healthcare expenses, and environmental damage. While densification is essential, it must be balanced with preserving Dublin’s unique cultural and historical character. Sensitive urban design that respects heritage can achieve this balance.
Stuart Mathieson is research manager with InterTradeIreland
