Tuesday 28 January 2020

The global economy ‘is only 8.6% circular’

The global economy ‘is only 8.6% circular’

The global economy is only 8.6% circular, down from 9.1% two years ago.

That's the warning from the Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative, which says the global circularity gap widening is being driven by high rates of resource extraction, ongoing stock build-up, plus, low levels of end-of-use processing and recycling.

The report suggests these trends are deeply embedded within what it calls the "take-make-waste" tradition of the linear economy and says "transformative and correctional" solutions are urgently required to drive change.

It notes countries are critical facilitators of the circular economy and says although practical implementation of circular economy measures are already happening, nations need to set policies and plan roadmaps to take meaningful steps forward.

The report reads: "Closing the circularity gap serves the higher objective of preventing further and accelerated environmental degradation and social inequality.

"The end goal is to establish an ecologically safe and socially-just operating space for mankind. As laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, countries have an important and pivotal role to play."

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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