From Crisis to Proximity: A New Social Contract for Cities

Today’s urban crises — climate disruption, rising inequalities, mobility pressure, housing shortages, and social fragmentation — lie at the heart of deteriorating well-being and quality of life. In a predominantly urban world, it is essential to pursue deep reflection and decisive action to transform this malaise through new urban approaches. Throughout history, proximity — the capacity for people to remain connected — has been a key lever for rebuilding social cohesion.

This lecture argues that we must go further and establish a new social contract for cities, grounded in proximity as a civic, ecological, and economic principle. By rethinking how we organise time, space, and everyday access, proximity provides a powerful framework for transforming urban life. Concepts such as the “x-minute city” and “high-quality social life” demonstrate how human-scale ecosystems can reduce carbon emissions, ease daily stress, strengthen communities, and create new forms of economic value.

In this vision, proximity is neither a trend nor a lifestyle choice, but a structural response to the crises shaping urban futures — one that can make cities more humane, inclusive, and resilient. As a new urban era emerges, proximity becomes the cornerstone of a renewed pact between citizens, institutions, and territories, enabling people not only to live in cities but to flourish in them.

Carlos Moreno, a French-Colombian scholar based in Paris since age 20, is Professor at IAE Paris–Sorbonne and Scientific Director of the ETI Chair. A multidisciplinary researcher, he is internationally recognized for innovative ideas to improve urban life. Creator of the “15-Minute City,” he received the 2022 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour. He is a member of the French Academy of Technologies, the International Academy of Architecture, the American Academy of Housing and Communities, and Sigma Xi. Widely awarded and influential, his writings appear in 14 languages, and he is regarded as one of the world’s leading contemporary urban thinkers.

Lewis Mumford Lecture Series
Each spring, the Spitzer School of Architecture and its Urban Design Program present the Lewis Mumford Lecture and seminar. Named for writer, architecture critic, and urbanist Lewis Mumford, who attended City College, the series invites the world’s most distinguished urbanists to speak freely and publicly about the future of cities and the social purposes of architecture. This series was initiated by the late Michael Sorkin, distinguished professor of architecture and director of the Urban Design Program at the Spitzer School, and curated by him for eleven years.

Accessibility
For live captioning, ASL interpretation, or access requests, please contact [email protected].

Statement of Conduct

The City College of New York, founded on a vision of access to excellence, educates thousands of students each year and encourages civic and robust debate, respectful dissent, and thoughtful inquiry.

Consistent with this commitment, City College supports academic freedom and convenes conversations representing multiple perspectives throughout the year. The views expressed at events are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the college.

All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, uphold personal and professional integrity, and comply with all applicable College policies and venue rules.

Image Credits
Thomas Baltes (portrait); WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities (all others)

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