Paris puts people and bicycles at the heart of ambitious new climate plan

In a groundbreaking bid to transform itself into a more sustainable and cyclist-friendly metropolis, Paris is set to roll out its ambitious 2024-2030 Climate Plan. This comprehensive initiative, slated for presentation to the Paris Council in December 2023 and subsequent approval by elected officials in 2024, is underpinned by a commitment to expedited, localized, and equitable climate action, with an emphasis on impactful changes that resonate with residents on a daily basis.

Central to the city’s vision is an overarching plan to prioritize cycling infrastructure, aiming to create a more connected and accessible urban landscape for cyclists. Paris plans to significantly expand its cycling network, introducing 180 kilometers of additional cycling paths and 130,000 bicycle parking spaces by 2026. This cyclist-centric approach is designed to not only reduce pollution linked to car traffic but also to promote sustainable and healthy mobility alternatives for residents.

Paris is also in the middle of a plan to transform the French capital into a 100 per cent cycling city.

“For each new cycle path, there are always more Parisians who get around!” said Mayor Anne Hidalgo, in a recent social media post. “Like rue du Renard in Paris Centre, whose new cycle path has quickly attracted new cycling fans.”

 

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A post shared by Anne Hidalgo (@annehidalgo)

To further support this cycling revolution, Paris is set to unveil a series of “pedestrian hearts” in each district, starting with a large-scale Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) in the heart of the city by the end of 2024. This transformative zone will be reserved for pedestrians, bicycles, public transport, and specific user categories, signaling a paradigm shift away from individual car usage.

The move echoes Barcelona’s acclaimed superblocks planning concept as part of the city’s efforts to create more pedestrian-friendly and sustainable neighborhoods. A superblock typically consists of nine city blocks, forming a square of three blocks by three blocks. Within this area, the interior streets are transformed into pedestrian-priority zones, while the perimeter streets remain accessible to local traffic. The central part of the superblock becomes a shared space for residents, encouraging community activities, green spaces, and recreational areas. Space for pedestrians and cycling infrastructure is prioritised.

The implementation of superblocks also aligned with Barcelona’s broader sustainability goals as is the case with Paris’s new plan.

Additionally, Paris aims to discourage tourist coaches from circulating in the city center by 2024 and, by 2026, plans to establish large pedestrian centers in every arrondissement. Such measures underscore Paris’s commitment to creating a more cyclist-friendly environment, reducing the reliance on individual cars, and fostering a sustainable and resilient urban ecosystem.

Rue de Rivoli in Paris, circa 2020

Beyond cycling, the 2024-2030 Climate Plan encompasses a holistic approach to combat climate change, spanning five main axes:

1. Protect the population from the consequences of climate change:
   • Open 300 hectares of green spaces by 2026, achieving 10 square meters of green spaces per inhabitant.
   • Install 120 new misting fountains throughout the city.
   • Create three swimming places in the Seine by the summer of 2025.
2. Massify the environmental transformation of buildings:
   • Implement a “1000 anti-overheating roofs” program for emergency insulation in high-heat conditions.
   • Create 40,000 square meters of white-painted roofs on public buildings to reduce temperatures during extreme heat.
   • Renovate around 30 schools and 10 nurseries each year, focusing on various aspects of ecological transformation.
3. Accelerate the exit from fossil fuels and aim for 100% renewable energies:
   • End the use of fossil fuels in public facilities by 2040.
   • Develop 6,000 micro-installations for the production of renewable energy in public buildings.
   • Recover lost heat throughout the territory to supply the Paris heat network.
4. Promote and support a local, resilient, and low-carbon economy:
   • Establish a reuse hub and resource centers throughout Paris.
   • Create 100 hectares of land for urban agriculture by 2030.
   • Introduce three vegetarian meals per week with 75% organic content in Parisian canteens by 2030.

This comprehensive approach seeks to position Paris as a global leader in the fight against climate change while simultaneously prioritising the creation of a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly urban environment. As the plan unfolds, the success of these initiatives hinges on the active participation and support of the Parisian community, reinforcing the city’s commitment to a sustainable and resilient future.