On 9th February 2023, the MP for Don Valley, Nick Fletcher, asked the government to hold an urgent debate on the “international socialist concept” of “so called 15-minute cities”. He followed this up with an exhaustive thread on social media site Twitter, saying these cities would take away personal freedoms, destroy towns and cities, and keep people prisoners in their communities. The main premise of 15-minute cities is that everything you need, from your office, to your shops, education, healthcare, and leisure services should be easily reachable within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your home. The aim of this type of urban design is to reduce car dependency, whilst also promoting healthier living and improving quality of life for city dwellers (you can read more about 15-minute cities here). So why has this city concept become so controversial it needs a parliamentarian debate?
One reason is because the ‘15-minute city’ has become one of the most talked about conspiracy theories to emerge so far in 2023. Most of the push-back seems to be from people who believe the 15-minute city will become the new COVID-19 lockdown, forcing people to remain in their locations, and dictating when and how people can leave their neighbourhoods. But the concept has also been caught up in a broader conspiracy theory known as “The Great Reset”, in which an unelected global elite allegedly remake society and permanently alter life as we know it. Recently, protests in Oxford saw thousands of residents take to the streets holding placards such as “Digital ID and Currency = Digital slavery” and “we won’t be caged, we are not animals”. Some also carried anti-vaccine placards.
The concept of the 15-minute city is perceived by some as a threat to individual autonomy. Feeling autonomous and in control of one’s environment is a fundamental psychological need, and research has shown that the frustration of this (and other) psychological needs is associated with higher belief in conspiracy theories. It is argued that this link occurs because people are trying to compensate for their unmet psychological needs and looking for ways to cope. In this case, they are trying to regain a sense of control and autonomy and they look to conspiracy explanations to try to help them achieve that.
Conspiracy theories have consequences, and the conspiracy theories about 15-minute cities are no exception. We have already seen numerous protests and strong political opposition to the concept. In the long-term, these conspiracy theories might have consequences for the success of actions to tackle climate change. Research suggests that climate conspiracy theories can hinder efforts to encourage climate-friendly behaviours. Other research suggests that climate conspiracy theories can “spill over”, spreading controversy and mistrust in the policies under discussion and ultimately threatening their success. The researchers involved in this work argued that the way to build trust in climate policies is “by moderating online toxicity on such topics” in an effort to encourage “trustworthiness in climate action”.
The rise of the 15-minute city conspiracy theory may therefore have consequences for the future success of the idea itself, as well as for other climate-related plans.