Mark Hyman
Co-Founder & CMO, Function Health | 16x NYT Bestselling Author | Founder, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine | TIME 100 Health 2025
Carlos Moreno
Creator of the 15-Minute City | Associate Professor & Director of the ETI Chair, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne | Author of The 15-Minute City | Obel Award & Legion of Honour
Carlos Moreno is the urbanist who created the "15-Minute City," one of the most influential urban ideas of our time, adopted by cities on every continent. A Sorbonne professor, author, and advisor to global leaders, he reimagines the city around the people who live in it rather than the cars that move through it. On stage, he turns a hopeful vision of sustainable, human cities into strategies leaders can act on.
Want to book Carlos Moreno as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Carlos Moreno biography
Carlos Moreno is the urbanist who changed how the world thinks about cities. The creator of the globally influential “15-Minute City,” he proposed a deceptively simple idea, that everything a person needs day to day should lie within a short walk or bike ride from home, and turned it into one of the most widely adopted urban concepts of our time, embraced by mayors and city networks on every continent. His work reframes the city not as a machine for cars and commuting, but as a place built around the people who live in it.
The sustainability speaker Carlos Moreno is an associate professor at the IAE Paris-Sorbonne Business School, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where he co-founded and directs the Entrepreneurship-Territory-Innovation (ETI) Chair. He introduced the 15-Minute City in 2016 and presented it at the Paris COP21 climate summit, after which it was adopted by Paris and, especially during the pandemic, by hundreds of cities worldwide as a blueprint for a greener, more local, more human way of living. A Colombian who has lived in France since the age of twenty, he brings a genuinely global and humanist perspective to the urban challenges of climate, mobility, and quality of life.
The 15-Minute City and the Idea of Happy Proximity
Moreno’s thinking is captured in his 2024 book, The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet, which tells the story of how the idea spread from city to city and offers concrete strategies for building what he calls “happy proximity.” His broader framework, spanning chrono-urbanism, the “30-Minute Territory,” and “sustainable proximities,” has made him an advisor to national and international leaders and a scientific voice for the C40 Cities network. Before urbanism, he was a pioneer in robotics and the intelligent control of complex systems, a background that shapes his systems-level view of the city. His contributions have earned the Legion of Honour, the Obel Award, and the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour, among many others.
As a speaker, Carlos Moreno is visionary yet deeply practical, translating a big, hopeful idea into strategies leaders can actually pursue. He speaks on the future of cities and urban life, sustainability and climate action through proximity, quality of life and human-centered design, and how the 15-Minute City applies to business, real estate, and communities. Audiences leave seeing their own cities, and their own organizations, through a transformed and more human lens.
Carlos Moreno Speaking Videos
Keynote speech by Prof. Carlos Moreno, Scientist and Professor at IAE - Paris1 Sorbonne University
Carlos Moreno: The Adaptation Imperative
Carlos Moreno Keynote Topics
Moreno introduces the concept that made him a global figure: a city in which work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure are all within a short walk or bike ride of home. He explains where the idea came from, why hundreds of cities have embraced it, and what it takes to put it into practice, giving audiences a hopeful, concrete vision of how urban life can be less congested, less polluted, and far more human.
Transportation and sprawling urban design are among the largest sources of carbon emissions. Moreno shows how "sustainable proximity," bringing daily life closer together, is one of the most powerful and achievable tools cities have to fight climate change while improving residents' lives. He connects urban design directly to sustainability goals, offering leaders a practical framework for greener, more resilient communities.
At the heart of Moreno's work is a simple question: what kind of city do we actually want to live in? He explores how designing around people, rather than cars and commutes, transforms health, wellbeing, social connection, and local economies. It's an inspiring case for putting human quality of life at the center of how we build and govern the places we live.
The shift toward local, mixed-use, human-scale places has profound implications well beyond city hall, for employers, developers, retailers, and investors. Moreno explores what the proximity revolution means for the future of work, real estate, and business, helping organizations understand and anticipate one of the defining shifts in how people will live, work, and consume in the decades ahead.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Carlos Moreno
Why Carlos Moreno?
Booking Carlos Moreno gives audiences the mind behind one of the most influential urban ideas of the twenty-first century. The creator of the 15-Minute City, he has shaped how mayors, planners, and citizens on every continent think about the future of their cities, and he delivers that vision with the authority of a Sorbonne professor and the warmth of a lifelong humanist. His message connects the biggest issues of our time, climate, wellbeing, community, and economic change, in a way that is hopeful, concrete, and genuinely actionable. Visionary yet practical, globally recognized yet deeply human, he is ideal for events on sustainability, the future of cities, real estate, and quality of life. To bring Carlos Moreno to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Carlos Moreno?
Carlos Moreno is a Franco-Colombian urbanist, scientist, professor, and author, best known as the creator of the "15-Minute City" concept. Born in Colombia in 1959 and based in France since 1979, he is an associate professor at the IAE Paris-Sorbonne Business School, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where he directs the Entrepreneurship-Territory-Innovation Chair. He introduced the 15-Minute City in 2016, and the idea has since been adopted by cities around the world. He is the author of The 15-Minute City (2024) and a recipient of the French Legion of Honour, the Obel Award, and the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour.
What is the 15-Minute City?
The 15-Minute City is an urban planning concept developed by Carlos Moreno in which residents can meet most of their daily needs, work, shopping, education, healthcare, culture, and leisure, within a fifteen-minute walk or bike ride of their home. The goal is to reduce dependence on cars, cut carbon emissions, give people back the time they lose commuting, and rebuild vibrant, connected local neighborhoods. Introduced in 2016 and presented at the COP21 climate summit, it gained worldwide momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been embraced by Paris and hundreds of other cities as a model for sustainable, human-centered urban living.
What topics does sustainability speaker Carlos Moreno cover?
Carlos Moreno speaks on the 15-Minute City and the future of urban life, cities and climate action through sustainable proximity, quality of life and human-centered design, and what the proximity revolution means for business and real estate. His keynotes suit events on sustainability, cities and urbanism, real estate, climate, and quality of life. To book Carlos Moreno as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Carlos Moreno as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Carlos Moreno as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Carlos Moreno's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Carlos Moreno or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Carlos Moreno speaking fee?
Carlos Moreno speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Carlos Moreno to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Carlos Moreno.
How can I contact Carlos Moreno?
We only work with Carlos Moreno on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Carlos Moreno and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Carlos Moreno speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Carlos Moreno for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Carlos Moreno for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Carlos Moreno is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Carlos Moreno for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
