12.4 International agreements and initiatives supporting circular economy

International agreements play a crucial role in driving circular economy adoption worldwide. From climate accords to waste management treaties, these pacts set global standards and encourage nations to embrace sustainable practices and resource efficiency.

Circular economy initiatives, led by organizations like the EU and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, are pushing for systemic change. These efforts focus on redesigning products, empowering consumers, and fostering collaboration among businesses, governments, and academia to accelerate the transition to circularity.

International Agreements

Climate and Sustainability Agreements

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Top images from around the web for Climate and Sustainability Agreements

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  Responsible consumption and production – A Rounder Sense of Purpose View original

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  Who’s running late for the Paris Agreement? | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne View original

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  Figure 2: SDGs with an environmental dimension View original

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  Responsible consumption and production – A Rounder Sense of Purpose View original

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• Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
  • Encourages countries to transition to low-carbon economies
  • Promotes sustainable resource management and circular economy principles
  • Requires nations to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining their climate action plans
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a blueprint for global sustainable development by 2030
  • Goal 12 specifically addresses responsible consumption and production
  • Promotes resource efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and access to basic services
  • Encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into reporting cycles

Resource Management and Waste Agreements

• Basel Convention regulates transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
  • Aims to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects of hazardous wastes
  • Promotes environmentally sound management of wastes
  • Recent amendments address plastic waste, supporting circular economy efforts in plastics management
• G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency fosters collaboration among G7 nations to improve resource efficiency
  • Shares best practices and promotes innovation in resource efficiency
  • Encourages the adoption of life-cycle-based decision-making in businesses
  • Supports the development of resource efficiency indicators and measurement methodologies

Circular Economy Initiatives

European Union Circular Economy Efforts

• Circular Economy Action Plan (EU) presents a set of initiatives to establish a sustainable product policy framework
  • Focuses on designing sustainable products, empowering consumers, and promoting circularity in production processes
  • Identifies key product value chains (electronics, batteries, vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction, food)
  • Aims to reduce waste generation and create a well-functioning EU market for secondary raw materials
• OECD RE-CIRCLE project analyzes the economic and environmental consequences of transitioning to a more resource-efficient and circular economy
  • Provides policy guidance on resource efficiency and the transition to a circular economy
  • Develops quantitative economic-environmental modeling to assess the impacts of resource efficiency and circular economy policies
  • Analyzes the macroeconomic consequences of the transition, including impacts on GDP, employment, and trade

Global Circular Economy Advocacy and Collaboration

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with businesses, governments, and academia to accelerate the transition to a circular economy
  • Develops and promotes the circular economy concept through research, learning, and collaboration
  • Circular Economy 100 (CE100) network brings together corporations, governments, cities, and academic institutions
  • Publishes influential reports on circular economy opportunities in various sectors (fashion, food systems, plastics)
• World Circular Economy Forum serves as a global platform for sharing circular economy solutions and best practices
  • Annual event brings together business leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world
  • Showcases circular economy innovations and facilitates knowledge exchange
  • Promotes international collaboration and partnerships to advance circular economy implementation globally