Do cities have enough environmental information to become more sustainable and circular? Anna Petit-Boix and Sina Leipold Chair of Societal Transition & Circular Economy, University of Freiburg www.transition.uni-freiburg.de, Twitter @SinaLeipold

The promise of the circular economy Relieve pressures on municipal services and budgets Increase disposable income Encourage an innovation-rich urban economy Increase livability Reduce carbon emissions Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) Cities in the circular economy: an initial exploration https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/cities-in-the-circular-economy-an-initial-exploration

The promise of the circular economy Relieve pressures on municipal services and budgets Increase disposable income Encourage an innovation-rich urban economy Increase livability Reduce carbon emissions What kind of strategies are being promoted? Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) Cities in the circular economy: an initial exploration https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/cities-in-the-circular-economy-an-initial-exploration

The promise of the circular economy How are they prioritized? Relieve pressures on municipal services and budgets Increase disposable income Encourage an innovation-rich urban economy Increase livability Reduce carbon emissions What kind of strategies are being promoted? Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) Cities in the circular economy: an initial exploration https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/cities-in-the-circular-economy-an-initial-exploration

The promise of the circular economy How are they prioritized? Relieve pressures on municipal services and budgets Increase disposable income Encourage an innovation-rich urban economy Increase livability Reduce carbon emissions What kind of strategies are being promoted? Are they environmentally sustainable? Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) Cities in the circular economy: an initial exploration https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/cities-in-the-circular-economy-an-initial-exploration

Monitoring the circular economy Underlying approach to the circular economy Systems perspective: Life cycle assessment Material flow analysis Input-output analysis … Industrial ecology

Monitoring the circular economy Underlying approach to the circular economy Systems perspective: Life cycle assessment Material flow analysis Input-output analysis … Industrial ecology How does it address the circular economy in cities?

Our question: Do the environmental assessments conducted so far in the framework of the circular economy align with the initiatives promoted in cities?

Methods http://www.govsgocircular.com/ http://www.circular-europe-network.eu/ https://api-site.paris.fr/images/77050

Methods

Methods

Results What are cities promoting?

Results What are cities promoting?

Results Are these strategies quantified?

Results Are these strategies quantified? Waste/product reuse and cascading Efficient waste management infrastructure

Results BUT! Are these strategies quantified? URBAN PLANNING SOCIAL CONSUMPTION BUT!

Discussion Need to define the environmental consequences of urban initiatives based on local interests Consider local context: culture, geography, economy, tradition, politics Assessment can help prioritize some initiatives over others

Industries and businesses are barely promoted Discussion Need to define the environmental consequences of urban initiatives based on local interests Consider local context: culture, geography, economy, tradition, politics Assessment can help prioritize some initiatives over others Smallest cities <250,000 people Largest cities >500,000 people Industries and businesses are barely promoted Diversification

Take-home message Increase the attention on social consumption and urban planning when addressing CE issues that directly affect urban areas Collaborative work might help to further delve into the needs of cities based on their sustainability goals and prioritization criteria

Thank you. I look forward to your questions. Find out more about our research at www.circulus-project.de On twitter @SinaLeipold Thank you. I look forward to your questions. RELATED PUBLICATION! anna.petit.boix@transition.uni-freiburg.de