Parisians Vote To Green 500 Streets In Ambitious Climate Initiative

Parisians have approved an ambitious plan to block 500 streets to road traffic and replace miles of asphalt with plants and trees, signaling a willingness to support climate policies even if they might have a disruptive impact on daily life.

The nonbinding proposal by Mayor Anne Hidalgo passed with nearly 66 percent of the vote, according to returns published Monday, after residents age 16 or over headed to the polls Sunday.

While the proposals supporters say the program will make the city more livable and help combat climate change, critics say the changes will make the city more difficult to navigate and further fuel the divide between Parisians and those who live in the suburbs.

With this vote, Parisians have the choice of whether or not to accelerate Pariss adaptation to climate change, the fight against pollution and the improvement of the living environment within 300 meters of their homes, Hidalgo said in an Instagram post.

It could also be a last chance for Hidalgo, who has been mayor of Paris since 2014 and said she will not seek re-election next year, to advance major plans for the city. Thats particularly true of her vision for a 15-minute city, in which residents can reach essential resources by foot, bicycle or public transport within a quarter of an hour. These plans have grown in popularity worldwide - and especially in Europe - as more cities struggle with rising temperatures and air pollution tied to climate change.