Contributions to a discussion on linking local, regional and global circular economy strategies to reduce carbon emissions

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+) has launched a new campaign called "More circularity, less carbon" to encourage local public authorities to account for the carbon impact of the implementation of their circular economy strategy. The campaign highlights the importance of the circular economy for carbon mitigation and provides some general considerations on where the main potentials for reduction lie in, within the scope of UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.

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“This is very much the right way: reducing consumption and production is a key answer to tackle climate change but also biodiversity loss, all these issues are very much interconnected,” Ms Hunt Safrankova, Head of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ‘s Brussels Office said as she welcomed the new campaign at an event organized by ACR+ in Brussels on 19 November.

The ACR+ event was opened by Iain Gulland, ACR+ president, followed by a presentation of the campaign by Jean-Benoît Bel, project manager at ACR+. This was followed by a panel discussion where Ms. Veronika Hunt Safrankova, Head of the United Nations Environment Programme Office in Brussels, spoke alongside representatives from the European Commission, European Environmental Bureau and the European Committee of the Regions.

Ms Hunt Safrankova was in specific invited to comment on what is being done at global level in terms of promoting the circular economy, complementing the work done on local and regional levels as discussed by the other speakers; and how we quantify the effects of the circular economy towards tackling climate change. This article summarizes the main observations she made during her intervention.

“Local and regional action is extremely important because competencies for waste management are mainly at local level, in municipalities,” said Ms Hunt Safrankova at the start of her address. “Every day actions are also very important to prevent waste and know what is in the products we are using and can help make huge impact.” This is something UNEP very much supports.

The Head of the UNEP Brussels Office identified in this regard two recently launched initiatives at global level aimed at encouraging individual action towards more sustainable lifestyles through more sustainable consumption: the Anatomy of Action, in the context of the One Planet Network to which UNEP contributes, is a practical, evidence-based action kit supporting individuals taking action on climate and advancing the SDGs; and ‘What’s in your Bathroom’ an awareness raising action to ban microplastics. Both campaigns very much fall within the scope of SDG12.

Ms Hunt Safrankova further gave examples of how UNEP quantifies at global level the effects of the circular economy towards tackling climate change, thereby focusing on three workstreams:

The first relates to the work done by the International Resource Panel (UNEP-IRP), on providing data and recommendations on natural resources and waste management. The panel’s 2019 Global Resources Outlook presents the story of natural resources as they move through our economies and societies.  Global resource use has more than tripled worldwide since 1970 according to the Panel, she said, “and this while global material productivity has not improved in the last 30 years...”. “So we are pretty much on the same page as when ACR+ was founded 25 years ago,” she observed. She pointed out that much can be done about this if all stakeholders get on with it, be it UN, European Commission, cities, and also businesses.

The role of businesses in efforts towards a circular economy is absolutely crucial, she underlined. One of the findings from the Global Resources Outlook is that the smart use of natural resources will increasingly translate into cost reductions and improved margins. There are some best practices, for instance in the United States where some new industrial printers, new vehicle parts, and heavy duty off road equipment have saved 84 percent in costs through comprehensive refurbishment strategies. Many business leaders are realizing it can be done, she noted and also that the circular economy is the key for scaling up renewable energy supply. 

A UN Environment Assembly resolution adopted in March 2019, further identities innovative pathways to achieve Sustainable Consumption and Production. The resolution highlights approaches that have the potential of creating significant economic, environmental and social impacts, and help achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement at lesser costs. “If we go through this pathway we can speed up the responses and we will also pay less money,” she observed.

A second workstream Ms Hunt Safrankova referred to is the Life Cycle Initiative. This is an online tool that has three modules which identify hotspot areas of sustainable consumption and production, country profiles and national data systems. “UNEP will be very happy to help with these tools we are continuously developing,” she told the audience, inviting them to take a look at it and identify what are the key issues based on country, or region or topic.

Finally, the third workstream Ms Hunt Safrankova mentioned as one where she sees clear opportunities for connecting with the work of ACR+, is on sharing best practices and data related to value chains. “Our Sustainable Consumption and Production Unit is currently mapping key impacts in different value chains, including climate change impacts, of for instance plastics, textile, tourism, construction… That would be a potential area where we can exchange data and best practices.” She mentioned in particular the textile industry. The impact of this sector has long been underestimated, “there is huge potential in this,” she noted,” we are a very consumer oriented society especially in Europe – but with textiles we can really address the emission reduction.” We need to find ways to make products more long lasting and of better quality material she concluded.

The “More circularity, less carbon” campaign was launched during the European Week for Waste Reduction 2019. To learn more visit www.ewwr.eu