Nicolas Bauquet: Paris region actively implementing climate-sensitive planning

The Ile-de-France region (Grand Paris) has already achieved efficient land use through the implementation of climate-smart urban planning, Nicolas Bauquet, director of the Paris Region Institute, said during a panel discussion at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

"In January, we received data showing that the 'consumption' of natural, agricultural, and forested land in the Paris region in 2021-2025 was 28% lower year-on-year compared to the period 2012-2021. This means we are already achieving our goals," he noted.

According to him, achieving results requires working at the right scale and linking urban development with the processes occurring around it.

"The last thing we want is to have a good city that has a negative impact on the surrounding area," the institute's director noted.

He stated that a city bears a dual responsibility-for what happens within it and for what happens around it.

Bauquet emphasized that the Paris region has a planning system that integrates climate action at all levels and scales-from regional planning to the urban and bioclimatic master plan.

"All these levels include climate action-from spatial strategy to the issuance or denial of building permits at the local level," he said.

According to Bauquet, the second important aspect is the need for a clear goal: "The main objective of strategic planning at the regional level is to achieve net-zero land consumption."

He noted that soil plays a key role both in reducing carbon emissions and in maintaining ecosystem functions.

He added that development weakens the ability of ecosystems to moderate air temperatures and absorb rainwater.

"That's why this became our primary goal in the master plan," Bauquet said.

He also added that rational land use contributes to urban development.