With the global economy currently being only 9% circular, it has been estimated that circular economy measures could cut 33% of greenhouse gas emissions embedded in productions and serve as a key lever in bridging the 1.5ºC emissions gap – the toughest target of the Paris Agreement. However, the potential of circular economy approaches and material-related consumption and production has often been overlooked.
ICLEI has identified Circular Development as one of its five integrated pathways toward sustainable urban development and promotes sustainable urban ecosystems where material loops are closed, and the value of resources is efficiently maximized by applying the circular approach – Redesign, Reuse, Repair, Remanufacture, Recycle and Recover.
To support local governments in strengthening their joint efforts in fostering transitions towards low carbon and circular development, providing social benefits while respecting ecological boundaries, ICLEI launched the Green Circular Cities Coalition in 2019, presenting a platform to connect cities, experts, businesses, and relevant stakeholders to shift the mindset from “waste management” towards “resource management”, reduce waste, and increase circularity via experiences exchange and mutual learning.
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