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One of the sustainability pathways to reduce the environmental consequences of the current extract-make-dispose model is a circular economy (CE) model.
In this policy brief, we provide insights into common challenges local governments face in implementing their CE plans and suggest recommendations for overcoming these. It aims to answer the question: How can the CE agenda be governed in cities?
While more cities adopt a circular economy (CE) model to advance their environmental ambitions, researchers and practitioners have much more to learn about the implementation and impact of CE strategies.
Local governments play a central role in accelerating a CE, as they manage a wide range of local infrastructure and services and can thereby significantly contribute to local sustainability.
To unlock the potential of the CE as a model for establishing more resource-efficient and resilient urban systems, cutting emissions significantly, and facilitating a just and inclusive society, urban policymakers need to: (1) create a shared CE vision with measurable targets and inclusive strategies; (2) establish supportive financial and regulatory instruments; (3) steer collaboration across sectors, stakeholders and governance levels; and (4) enforce evaluation mechanisms to help cities learn from experience and scale up CE practices.
Team Leader: Cities, Communities and Consumption; Senior Research Fellow
SEI Headquarters
Maryna Henrysson
Project / This project provides cities with an adjustable framework to assess their level and potential for circularity.
SEI report / This report provides a coherent picture of SEI-wide engagement on the circular economy and offers future directions for the research agenda.
Journal article / An evidence map describes the literature published in the past decade on cities' circular economy strategies and focus.
Feature / For World Habitat Day 2021, SEI researchers reflect on the roles that cities and the circular economy play in accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world.
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