Carlos Moreno

Carlos Moreno

Pioneer of the 15-Minute City and Global Visionary on Urban Transformation

Core Intelligence Domain: Urban Sustainability & Smart Cities
Location: Paris, France | Languages: English, French, Spanish
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Carlos Moreno is an internationally acclaimed urbanist, scientist, and the pioneering architect behind the globally adopted ’15-Minute City’ framework. As the Scientific Director of the ETI (Entrepreneurship, Territory, Innovation) Chair at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University, he provides C-suite leaders, global policymakers, and corporate strategists with proprietary foresight on how to radically transform urban environments for resilience, ecological sustainability, and human-centric living. His visionary approach to chronotopia—the intersection of time and space in urban planning—has revolutionised modern city design, positioning him as one of the most influential thinkers in global urbanisation and environmental strategy.

A Visionary in Complex Systems and Urban Innovation

Professor Moreno’s career is rooted in the rigorous study of complex systems and artificial intelligence. Over the past three decades, he has transitioned from deep-tech innovation to pioneering human-centric urban design. Recognising that modern cities were becoming increasingly fragmented, congested, and ecologically unsustainable, Moreno developed proprietary models that challenge the traditional paradigm of zoning and long commutes. His research advocates for a shift from mobility-driven urbanism to proximity-driven living, optimising both the economic vitality of territories and the wellbeing of their inhabitants.

The ’15-Minute City’ and ’30-Minute Territory’ Frameworks

At the core of Carlos Moreno’s global influence is the ’15-Minute City’ (La ville du quart d’heure) concept, a transformative urban model ensuring that citizens can access six essential functions—living, working, supplying, caring, learning, and enjoying—within a 15-minute walk or cycle from their homes. For less dense or rural areas, he developed the complementary ’30-Minute Territory’ model.

This proprietary framework gained massive international traction after being adopted by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and subsequently endorsed by the C40 Cities network as a blueprint for post-pandemic urban recovery and climate action. Today, the framework is being implemented by governments and corporate real estate developers across the globe, from Europe to the Americas and Asia, fundamentally altering commercial real estate strategies, retail footprint planning, and corporate workplace models.

Global Accolades and Academic Leadership

Carlos Moreno’s contributions to science, society, and sustainability have been universally recognised by the highest institutional authorities. His most notable accolades include:

• UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour (2022): Awarded for his extraordinary contribution to global urban resilience and sustainable city planning.
• The Obel Award (2021): An international architectural prize honouring his outstanding contribution to human development through the 15-Minute City concept.
• Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour (2010): Awarded by the French Republic for his decades of pioneering work in science and technology.
• Best-Selling Author: His seminal book, The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet (2024), serves as the definitive guide for leaders navigating the future of urban infrastructure.

Strategic Speaking Themes and Executive Advisory

As a highly sought-after advisor represented by PSpeakers Global Intelligence, Carlos Moreno delivers transformative keynotes tailored for corporate boards, real estate conglomerates, urban summits, and environmental forums. His speaking topics include:

• The 15-Minute City Revolution: How proximity-based urban planning is reshaping the global economy, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing social cohesion.
• The Future of Work and Corporate Real Estate: Understanding how decentralised urban models and ‘polycentric’ cities dictate the future of office spaces, retail environments, and talent retention.
• Chronotopia and the Value of Time: Reimagining how businesses and governments can optimise the relationship between space and time to foster healthier, more productive populations.
• Smart Cities vs. Happy Cities: Shifting the narrative from purely technology-driven urbanism to human-centric, ecologically balanced, and digitally empowered communities.
• Climate Resilience through Urban Innovation: Actionable strategies for governments and corporations to meet aggressive net-zero targets by rethinking logistics, mobility, and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Global Urban Pioneer: The original creator of the ’15-Minute City’ framework, now adopted by the C40 Cities network and major metropolises worldwide.
• High-Level Academic Authority: Scientific Director of the ETI Chair at the prestigious Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris.
• Award-Winning Visionary: Recipient of the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour, the Obel Award, and the French Legion of Honour.
• Strategic Corporate Advisor: Provides C-suite executives and real estate leaders with unparalleled foresight on the future of work, spatial planning, and corporate sustainability.
• Multilingual Global Communicator: Delivers high-impact presentations in English, French, and Spanish, catering to truly global audiences.